Physics professor speaks about experience with laser designing
Kenneth Long
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: News
Building multi-million dollar giant lasers isn't easy.
Physics professor Jack Glassman will address the issues for this seemingly sci-fi field during his seminar titled "A Case Study of High Energy Laser Design: The Z-Beamlet Laser at Sandia National Laboratory," Thursday.
The seminar is at 3:30 p.m. in the Science Building, Room 0226.
Glassman's previous experience with lasers goes beyond theory, having helped build a $10 million laser for X-rays used for medical, weapons and nuclear energy research, which is chump change compared to the world's giant laser in Livermore, Calif., costing over $4 billion.
Glassman said one of the biggest difficulties comes not from the concentrated amounts of energy or the possibility of explosion, but from coming up with funding. The Z-Beamlet Laser, the main example for his lecture, cost approximately $37 million, not counting about $50 million in reused parts.
The Z-Beamlet is used for many types of research. According to the Sandia National Laboratories Web site, it has been used to recreate the energy potential of the sun, X-ray generation and thermonuclear research.
"You don't get the Death Star for free," Glassman said.
Having a laser explode after a hefty investment is always another concern.
"If you don't do things just right, (giant lasers) tend to blow up," Glassman said.
Another problem associated with the operation of these lasers is the cool-down period. Glassman said the pulse of energy from the Z-Beamlet lasts for about 10 nanoseconds and then requires a minimum cool-down period of 30 minutes before it can be used again.
Physics professor Arthur Braundmeier said overheating components of the laser share the same problems with normal computers.
"It all comes down to heat transfer," Braundmeier said. "If it happens with a giant laser, it could cost millions more though."
The total energy generated by a giant laser might sound large, but is comparable to a low-power microwave.
Physics professor Jack Glassman will address the issues for this seemingly sci-fi field during his seminar titled "A Case Study of High Energy Laser Design: The Z-Beamlet Laser at Sandia National Laboratory," Thursday.
The seminar is at 3:30 p.m. in the Science Building, Room 0226.
Glassman's previous experience with lasers goes beyond theory, having helped build a $10 million laser for X-rays used for medical, weapons and nuclear energy research, which is chump change compared to the world's giant laser in Livermore, Calif., costing over $4 billion.
Glassman said one of the biggest difficulties comes not from the concentrated amounts of energy or the possibility of explosion, but from coming up with funding. The Z-Beamlet Laser, the main example for his lecture, cost approximately $37 million, not counting about $50 million in reused parts.
The Z-Beamlet is used for many types of research. According to the Sandia National Laboratories Web site, it has been used to recreate the energy potential of the sun, X-ray generation and thermonuclear research.
"You don't get the Death Star for free," Glassman said.
Having a laser explode after a hefty investment is always another concern.
"If you don't do things just right, (giant lasers) tend to blow up," Glassman said.
Another problem associated with the operation of these lasers is the cool-down period. Glassman said the pulse of energy from the Z-Beamlet lasts for about 10 nanoseconds and then requires a minimum cool-down period of 30 minutes before it can be used again.
Physics professor Arthur Braundmeier said overheating components of the laser share the same problems with normal computers.
"It all comes down to heat transfer," Braundmeier said. "If it happens with a giant laser, it could cost millions more though."
The total energy generated by a giant laser might sound large, but is comparable to a low-power microwave.
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