Magurele Institute Laser Reaches World Record Power of 10 Petawatts

The laser system is part of the Extreme Light Infrastructure – Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) pan-European research project on ultra-high intensity laser technology and laser-matter interaction.

Project director Nicolae Zamfir explained that the laser’s maximum power output is equivalent to one tenth of the Sun’s power.

“This is a great technical and scientific breakthrough and a world premiere. With the help of this laser, we can create new phenomena, research how matter reacts to extreme conditions which were never registered on Earth but probably exist in the Universe, and we are thus trying to solve some of the Universe’s riddles,” said Zamfir.

The installation of the laser system began in September 2016 and is currently in its final testing phases. It is formed out of two components: two ultra-high laser arms capable each of reaching a peak power of 10 PW and a gamma radiation generator.

The Magurele laser is one of the three branches of the ELI-NP project, with the other two set to be installed in the Czech Republic and Hungary.

The Romanian part of the project costs an estimated EUR293 million without taxes and is co-funded by the European Commission and the Romanian Government.