Laser–Plasma Physics

Current Research Topics

Have you ever wondered what happens when you shine an extremely powerful laser pulse on something? So have we, and sometimes we can even explain it! The Laser-Plasma Physics group develops mathematical models and simulations to understand one of the most fundamental interactions in physics—the interaction of light with matter. The study of these interactions, however, is not an end to itself—each is motivated by critical applications in energy, defense, basic science, and medicine: nuclear fusion which could deliver an almost endless supply of power with relatively low environmental impact, directed energy which could remotely power vehicles or provide missile and drone defense for ground, naval, or space targets, advanced laser-driven particle accelerators that promise to miniaturize conventional solid-state accelerators, and table-top radiation sources covering the entire electromagnetic spectrum that could provide widely accessible material probes and drivers.