About NSF OPAL

The NSF OPAL (Optical Parametric Amplifier Line) project, an ambitious initiative at the University of Rochester, will advance the frontier of ultra-high intensity laser–matter interactions.

The NSF OPAL facility, currently in the design and prototyping phase, will feature cutting-edge laser systems with the potential to generate peak powers up to 25 petawatts (PW). This will create unprecedented opportunities for breakthroughs in particle acceleration, quantum electrodynamics, nuclear physics, and planetary sciences.

NSF OPAL will serve as a world-class, open-access research infrastructure that pushes the boundaries of scientific exploration, enabling experiments that probe the fundamental forces of the universe. Our state-of-the-art lasers and diagnostic capabilities will facilitate discoveries in high-energy physics, relativistic astrophysics, and nuclear fusion, contributing to key scientific fields and inspiring new technologies.

NSF OPAL will drive transformative research, strengthen scientific collaborations globally, and provide unique training opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers.