NSF OPAL
A next-generation laser facility dedicated to the study of ultra-high-intensity laser-matter interactions.
The NSF OPAL facility is envisioned to serve as a learning environment and hub for diverse scientific networks, offering opportunities for fundamental research, innovation, and societal benefit. Funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation will support the design of two 25-petawatt lasers using optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification, as well as associated experimental and diagnostics systems.
Frontier Science Working Groups
Four Frontier Science Working Groups have identified eight flagship multi-petawatt laser experiments to explore the frontiers of science and push the limits of technology.
Join a Frontier Science Working Group
Participate in defining the needs for future experiments.
News & Updates
Is a gamma-ray laser possible?
Led by NSF OPAL Co-PI Antonino Di Piazza, a team of researchers have secured National Science Foundation funding in collaboration with colleagues from ELI Beamlines in the Czech Republic to study the feasibility of coherent light sources beyond X-rays.
MP3 Workshop Report
The Multi-Petawatt Physics Prioritization (MP3) Workshop Report captures the outcomes from a community-initiated workshop held April 20-22, 2022 at Sorbonne University in Paris, France.
NSF Announcement of RI-1 Awards
The National Science Foundation has awarded the University of Rochester nearly $18 million over three years to design and prototype key technologies for the NSF OPAL facility.
Partners
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. (2329970). Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.