Remote Principal Investigator (PI): Bringing the Omega Laser Facility to the PI

To adapt to social distancing, travel restrictions, and other safety measures necessitated by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Omega Operations and the LLE Information Technology (IT) Group collaborated to develop a new protocol that enables principal investigators (PI’s) to safely and effectively conduct laser experiments via remote access. Users need only a device and internet connection to participate. The remotePI option has proven to be an efficient tool that has delivered significant operational and economic advantages. These adaptations resulted in many requests from investigators to continue the venue of remotePI post-pandemic restrictions, allowing investigators the option of remaining at their home institutions rather than travelling long distances and permitting more collaborators to participate in the experiments remotely.