A company which combines unique expertise in micro engineering and design to make ultra-precise parts for laser experiments is being launched today, 26 January 2010. Scitech Precision Ltd., located at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in Oxfordshire, is based on 30 years of experience at the laboratory, making it unique within Europe.
Complex target with
needle to scale
The spin-out from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) supplies complex, multi-material assemblies or ~~targets~~ for high power laser experiments on laser facilities across the world. These micron scale targets act as the ~~sample~~ for investigations into the physics of extreme conditions comparable to temperatures and pressures at the centre of the sun; they are at the forefront of research into laser-induced fusion as a potential energy source and particle beam therapies for cancer treatment.
“The launch of a company such as Scitech Precision in the current climate shows how vibrant the laser research community is, and demonstrates the leading role played by the UK in this field”, said Professor Mike Dunne, Director of STFC’s Central Laser Facility. “The parts made by the company will allow pioneering high power laser research into fundamentally important areas such as security, healthcare and renewable energy.”
Dr. Kate Ronayne, Director of Scitech Precision, said “We’re really excited that Scitech Precision can now use the expertise here at RAL to supply the international laser research community with the latest technology. The targets require extremely precise machining and assembly techniques, and often involve complex bespoke requirements. We believe the long track record of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in this field is invaluable to the company and that we can make a significant impact to the science goals of the community.”
Examples of areas where this technology is being demonstrated are in the development of the proposed HiPER (High Power laser Energy Research) project which aims to develop an alternative renewable energy source in the future using laser fusion, and in currently operational experimental facilities such as the Gekko lasers at Insititute of Laser Engineering (ILE) in Japan and the Laboratoire pour l~~Utilisation des Lasers Intenses (LULI) in France.
Typical cone target such as used by the HiPER project
Professor Dimitri Batani from the University of Milan in Italy is one of Europe’s leading scientists in this field, and oversees the experimental validation program for HiPER. He said “Scitech Precision is working closely with us to develop novel target geometries which allow us to understand the mechanisms behind inertial fusion energy and how best to harness this energy to create a sustainable fuel source for the future. The team’s experience in understanding the scientific aims of an experiment and designing bespoke targets to achieve them is important to the HiPER project and for laser fusion research in general”.
Laser targets are tiny two or three dimensional objects typically no more than 50 microns to a few millimeters in size (the width of a human hair is usually 80-100 microns). The targets often require a unique combination of high precision technologies to come together to create the unusual objects. Targets are typically assembled from a number of smaller individual components and a variety of materials including plastics, fibres, foils, metals and silicon. Once constructed, the tiny target is placed at the focus of the laser beam.
Different targets are used to investigate varying interactions in each experiment so the targets are assembled to meet the experiment’s individual requirements. By changing the nature of the target, it is possible to carry out more sophisticated physics and open up new research areas. Research into cancer therapy, for example, uses thin foils to generate ion beams whereas cone targets are typically used in laser induced fusion experiments.
To coincide with the launch of the company, Scitech Precision (link opens in a new window) has a new website.
Notes for editors
Contacts
- Bekky Stredwick
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)1235 445777
- Dr Kate Ronayne
Director of Scitech Precision Ltd
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Tel: +44 (0)1235 445168
- Professor Mike Dunne
Director of STFC’s Central Laser Facility
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Tel: +44 (0)1235 446913
Scitech Precision Ltd
Scitech Precision (link opens in a new window) is a spin-out from the Science and Technology Facilities Council which provides a focus for the exploitation of STFC expertise in micro-assembly and micro-engineering. Based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Scitech Precision supplies bespoke micro-structured targets for use in high energy photon science experiments. The team of dedicated target fabrication technicians has more than 30 years combined experience in the design, manufacture and assembly of solid, multi-material micro targets for the user community of Astra and Vulcan lasers at STFC’s Central Laser Facility (CLF).
The state-of-the-art facilities at RAL used by Scitech Precision include CLF’s cutting edge target fabrication clean rooms and metrology suite, and RAL’s Precision Development Facility, which has many years of experience making micro-scale objects for space missions. These facilities combine a range of high precision capabilities from ultra-high precision lathes to semiconductor technology, vacuum coating and the application of the counter-intuitive behaviour of glues and surfaces at the nano scale.
Central Laser Facility
The Central Laser facility (CLF) at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is a partnership between its staff and the large number of members of UK and European universities who use the specialised laser equipment provided to carry out a broad range of experiments in physics, chemistry and biology. It supplies world-leading laser facilities for the study of fundamental science and its applications to energy, healthcare, security and environmental research.
HiPER
HiPER (link opens in a new window) is a proposed European High Power laser Energy Research facility dedicated to demonstrating the feasibility of laser driven fusion as a future energy source. HiPER is being designed to enable a broad array of new science including extreme material studies, astrophysics in the laboratory, miniaturised particle accelerators and a wide range of fundamental physics research. Fusion energy is an attractive, environmentally clean power source using sea water as its principal source of fuel. No greenhouse gases or long-lived radioactive waste materials are produced.
About STFC (link opens in a new window)
