Page 49 - Roadmap

7.4. PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING

LASER-BASED RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP

Presentation of the RI group
Laser-based research has gained considerable importance by now. This is due to the versatility of laser technology, en-
abling a variety of uses ranging from industrial machining to telecommunications and medical diagnostics and therapy.
Rapidly evolving laser systems with advanced features and beam parameters play an important role in basic research, as
well. Lasers capable of delivering ultra-short powerful pulses make it possible to investigate, on the one hand, extremely
fast processes taking place in various medi and, on the other hand, due to their increased intensity, new forms of light-
matter interactions. The research units of this RI group employ various lasers, laser-based secondary radiation sources
(THz, harmonics, extreme ultraviolet etc.) and related measurement technology. Extremely high intensity (ELI-HU,
SZTE) and ultra-short pulse lasers (MTA Wigner FK, SZTE) and their secondary sources (PTE, MTA Wigner FK,
ELI-HU), as well as the diagnostic, electron spectroscopy instruments which enable the examination of high-intensity
interactions (MTA Atomki) are all available. Some laboratories are also capable of growing single crystals for lasers
(MTA Wigner FK), while others develop measurement technology for lasers (Bay Zoltan Ltd.). In terms of various
laser applications, nano-optical research using short laser pulses (MTA Wigner FK) are important, as they will enable
the further development of different spectroscopic methods and optical sensors. Such research can pave the way towards
ultra-high-speed data processing. The only laser cooling laboratory in Hungary is currently under construction (MTA
Wigner FK) and will make it possible to study special quantum effects. In addition to basic research, laboratories spe-
cialising in the industrial, medical and measurement technology applications of lasers also perform successfully (e.g.
BME Department of Atomic Physics). These research activities are closely linked to ELI, the largest laser centre in Eu-
rope open to external users. One pillar of ELI (ELI-ALPS) is under construction in Szeged. It will be equipped with
laser and secondary sources with several unique parameter combinations which will be available for the first users from
2018 on.

National coordinator of the RI group: Background information
HAS Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Institute for Solid State Physics The working group is coordinated by Péter Dombi, head of the
and Optics “Ultrafast nanooptics” MTA/Wigner "Momentum" Research
Group, and also head of the ELI-ALPS Scientific Applications Di-
Contact: Péter Dombi vision. Other participants are domestic laboratories engaging in
Email: dombi.peter@wigner.mta.hu significant, laser-related research. The closest link between the lab-
Website: https://wigner.mta.hu/ oratories is ELI-ALPS in which all laboratories are involved in
some way.
Partners: BME; ELI HU nonprofit Ltd.; University of Szeg; MTA Atomki;
PTE; Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Ltd. Aim of the RI group
In its specific research field, each laboratory has a modern research
ESFRI connection: XFEL; ELI infrastructure area even by international standards, which have
been listed in the introduction. In addition to the working group
Status of the RI group: under implementation members, a number of institutions specialising in laser technology
deal with laser applications in some form. It is essential to involve
these institutions primarily in ELI-ALPS research projects.

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