This the second most powerful laser in the world, which has just been introduced to Le Barp on the CEA site, after 11 years of construction works.
Following a decision in 1996 by the President of France, the laser méga joule allows nuclear tests to be virtually simulated in a laboratory by recreating temperature and pressure conditions similar to those experienced when an H-bomb explodes.
It is one of the greatest scientific projects that France has carried out in the last ten years and the first inertial fusion experiments should take place in December.
To enhance the economic benefits of this equipment, the competitiveness cluster Route des lasers was created in 2005. Over a thousand companies were called upon to design the instrument, which also allowed a high-tech industry in the optical, opto-mechanics and electronics sector to be developed.
(Sources: AQUI 27/10/2014, Industries and Technologies 24/10/2014)
