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2 Stewardship in High-Intensity Laser Science and Technology
Pages 20-48

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From page 20...
... The laser fusion effort spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE) had many important technology spin-offs, including the development of rare-earth doped solid-state lasers,1 development of scalable solid-state laser materials,2 methods for cost-effective laser diodes for pump sources,3,4 invention of chirped-pulse amplifi 1   Ralph R
From page 21...
... commercial laser manufacturers led the market in the 20th century as well, including large companies such as Coherent Radiation, Spectra-Physics, General Dynamics, TRW, Avco, and others. Large defense contractors, such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and others scaled high-average-power lasers for defense purposes.
From page 22...
... 2.2.2  Changes in the Relative Level of Investment in Laser Science First, the excitement generated by discovery, scientific opportunity, and the economic benefits inspired by the 1998 National Academies' report captured the attention of the entire world. The Harnessing Light report of 1998 was perceived as having little impact for U.S.
From page 23...
... DOE had taken the lead in large-scale high-intensity lasers as part of its laser fusion and stockpile stewardship efforts; however, the cost and difficulty of completing large projects, specifically NIF, significantly squeezed DOE funding in high-intensity laser development. Smaller, more creative and explor atory efforts in laser science became victim of the expanding needs of large-scale laser projects, leaving very little "free energy" for creative ideas in advanced high energy laser science.
From page 24...
... 2.2.4  Start-ups and Mergers in Europe In recent years, EU support has resulted in a steady stream of start-up laser companies in the area of high-intensity laser technology. This is driven by a num ber of mechanisms: significant research funding in intense laser areas at universi ties and at research institutes, as well as equipment purchase funding at national 9   TRUMPF Group, "Facts and Figures - TRUMPF Group," accessed December 11, 2016, http:// www.trumpf.com/en/company/facts-and-figures.html.
From page 25...
... And joint university-industry research centers such as the Fraunhofer Institutes provide substantial government support for industry-directed projects. This contrasts with the situation in the United States, where the government supports virtually no stand-alone laser development work in high-intensity lasers, but rather all such work is justified as a small part of a larger scientific project.
From page 26...
... Through this balanced effort, a new frontier emerged in laser research enabled by the development of high-intensity, ultrafast lasers. Again, U.S.
From page 27...
... D Perry et al., "Petawatt Laser Pulses," Optics Letters 24, no.
From page 28...
... 2.3.1  Continuing Need for High-Intensity Lasers in the United States U.S. government contracts still support a vibrant community of small manu facturers of high-power lasers, ultrafast CPA lasers, and components.
From page 29...
... Small start-up company National Energetics38 is focused on facility-scale PW lasers. The small specialty research laser company KMLabs39 is focused on terawatt-scale, kHz Ti:sapphire lasers and commercialization of coherent EUV from high-harmonic generation secondary sources, as well as compact lasers for industrial applications.
From page 30...
... 44   National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) , "Stewardship Science Academic Alliances," National Nuclear Security Administration, December 21, 2011, https://nnsa.energy.gov/aboutus/ ourprograms/defenseprograms/stockpilestewardship/upaa/ssaa.
From page 31...
... NSF, which has supported national centers of excellence, such as the Center for Ultrafast Optical Science at the University of Michigan (1991-2002) ,52 appears to no longer be directly involved in the development of high-powered or high intensity lasers, except for some spin-off applications such as the new NSF STROBE Science and Technology Center at University of Colorado.53 NSF also has some mid-scale instrumentation programs for modest laser development.54 DOD has launched several MURIs (5-year multi-site university-based research programs)
From page 32...
... SOURCE: Top and lower right: American Association for the Advancement of Science, "Historical Trends in Federal R&D," https://www.aaas.org/page/historical-trendsfederal-rd, © AAAS. Lower left: National Science Foundation, NSF/DOE Partnership in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering Program Solicitation NSF 16-564, https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2016/nsf16564/nsf16564.htm.
From page 33...
... , "MURI 15 Kickoff - Strong Field Laser Matter Interactions at Mid-Infrared Wavelengths - Research Areas - AFOSR - APAN Community"; "2016 FY16 Radiation Balanced Lasers MURI Kick-OFF - Research Areas - AFOSR - APAN Community"; "Femto-Solid Lab Part of a $12.5 Million AFOSR MURI Program | High Energy Density Physics Scarlet Laser Fa cility"; Polynkin, "Experimental Component of the AFOSR-Supported MURI Program on Ultrafast Laser Filamentation in Transparent Dielectric Media." 57   DOE, 2013, "Lasers for Accelerators," http://science.energy.gov/~/media/hep/pdf/accelerator-rd stewardship/Lasers_for_Accelerators_Report_Final.pdf.
From page 34...
... These programs also help with workforce development for defense programs through the training of students at partnering universities. In general, the DOE-NNSA program has a well-defined nuclear security mission and does not act as a steward of high intensity lasers outside of that mission.
From page 35...
... The experience and expertise of the Department of Energy in building and operating high intensity laser facilities is well beyond other agencies in the federal government, and this makes DOE a primary agency to lead the creation of future high intensity laser scientific facilities in the United States (see Recommendation 3, Section 7.2)
From page 36...
... , Arbor Photonics (high power fiber laser technology) , and Intralase (preci sion surgery)
From page 37...
... and MURI programs as well as single-PI programs administered by the Air Force Research Laboratory, Army Research Office, and Office of Naval Research. An ex cellent example was the 2012 DARPA Program in Ultrafast Laser Science and En gineering (PULSE)
From page 38...
... It is worth noting, however, that these laboratories do offer various direct funding mechanisms for industry through programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Busi ness Technology Transfer (STTR)
From page 39...
... 2.5.1  Commercial Availability and Key Components Suppliers Table 2.1 addresses the commercial sources and viability of key components needed for construction of PW-class lasers and high-intensity free-electron lasers. There are two general categories of components in this list.
From page 40...
... 40 Opportunities in I n t e n s e U lt r a fa s t L a s e r s TABLE 2.1  Commercial Sources and Viability of Key Components Needed for Construction of PW-Class Lasers and High-Intensity Free-Electron Lasers Component Source Location Comment Large Nd:glass slabs Schott Glass US Limited market, Hoya in Japan exited business Large-aperture Crystal Systems US Parent company is in Chapter Ti:sapphire crystals 11, Crytur in Czech Republic developing capability Large-aperture Several Japan, Konoshima makes ceramic Yb:YAG crystals Czech Republic material but business is limited. Capabilities developing at Crytur in Czech Republic Large-aperture LBO Multiple Worldwide Capabilities now in France, crystals Russia, developing in China Large-aperture KDP LLNL, Cleveland Worldwide Capabilities in Russia and China crystals Crystals, others Flashlamps Multiple Worldwide Still viable business, includes replacements High-power diode Multiple Worldwide Commercial driver is industrial, lasers for materials processing Large-aperture LLNL, Plymouth US, EU Embargoed to China, likely gratings Gratings, Horiba Jobin leading to development there Yvon High-damage- Multiple Worldwide Technology is widely diversified, threshold coatings as it can be applied to multiple for optics uses Free-electron laser National Laboratories Worldwide Each linear accelerator is a undulators, and in the US, Japan, and custom installation.
From page 41...
... High-intensity laser science was one area of focus since several EU nations had a long tradition of strength in this 67  The White House, "FACT SHEET." last update December 21, 2016, https://obamawhitehouse. archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/12/21/fact-sheet-obama-administration-announces-new-­ manufacturing-usa.
From page 42...
... strengthen Europe's leading role in laser research by pushing the laser concept into new directions and opening new applications of key importance in research and innovation; (3) offer transnational access to top-quality laser re search facilities in a coordinated fashion for the benefit of the European research community; and (4)
From page 43...
... REPORTS EXAMINING THE PROSPECTS OF HIGH-INTENSITY LASER SCIENCE Several reports were published at the turn of the new millennium that identi fied the scientific opportunities enabled by high-intensity lasers, the relevance to national security, and the need for stewardship and federal agency coordination. These reports represented the combined efforts of the scientific and science policy communities.
From page 44...
... Laboratory-based plasma science driven by high-intensity lasers is recognized as one of the primary tools for addressing these questions. The report strongly endorses enhanced exploration of laboratory high energy density plasmas and recommends federal interagency cooperation to fully exploit the available scientific opportunities.72 2.8.2  Frontiers in High Energy Density Physics: The X-Games of Contemporary Science In this report key scientific questions are surveyed, and a number of disparate activities are united into an overall framework.
From page 45...
... The workshop was attended by academic, industrial, and government laboratory scientists and supported by the DOE Offices of BES and FES, the NNSA Office of Defense Programs, and the NSF Division of Physics. 2.8.3.1  Summary of the SAUUL Report The study identified five areas where opportunities for major breakthroughs exist for high-intensity lasers: fusion energy, compact particle accelerators, ultrafast X-ray generation, high energy density physics (HEDP)
From page 46...
... may be below the threshold for major national laboratory projects such as accelerator-based sources. The report recognized that since high-intensity laser science spans a large number of subfields, no single federal agency has responsibility for this field as a whole, which poses a threat for U.S.
From page 47...
... Richardson, 2002, The Science and Applications of Ultrafast Lasers: Opportunities in Science and Technology Using the Brightest Light Known to Man, presented at the SAUUL Workshop, Washington, D.C., June 17-19.
From page 48...
... 48 Opportunities in I n t e n s e U lt r a fa s t L a s e r s 3. The joint program will develop a coordinated strategic plan for a national program in consultation with NSF.


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