The CLF has a programme of training for high power laser (HPL) science that has been running for over 20 years.
Approximately once a year, a two-week course is run, called Training Weeks, primarily aimed at early-stage PhD students who are starting out in the field of HPL experiments. The course is tailored to meet the needs of Gemini, Vulcan and EPAC, the CLF’s HPL facilities, but is a good general introductory course.
Students benefit from the experiences of the CLF staff and have an excellent opportunity to network with other members of the HPL community and attend lectures by guest speakers.
Recent lecture topics have included ion acceleration, electron acceleration, astrophysical phenomena and summaries of international facilities. Some of the activities that the course will cover include experimental set-up, optical alignment techniques, laser and plasma diagnostics, vacuum and drive system operation, target fabrication and general safety.
Any application to the CLF’s HPL Training Weeks should include:
- the status of your PhD or postdoc project, if applicable, in years
- your current research topic
- your home institute and size of your group
- any upcoming experiments that you will participate in
- the details of all your prior experimental experience
This course is open to those attending a UK academic institution, but priority is typically given to first year PhD students, and those who have not attended an experiment on CLF facilities before. Travel and subsistence will be covered by the CLF. There are a limited number of places, so priority will be given to those expected to attend CLF experiments in the near future. Please highlight this when applying, if applicable.
Contact us for more information about the HPL Training Weeks
