Energy 

One of the issues that must be solved in modern society is the energy problem. At present, more than 80% of Japan's primary energy comes from fossil fuels, but there is a limit to the energy resources on Earth. Under these circumstances, nuclear fusion power generation, which can extract energy from hydrogen isotopes inexhaustible in seawater, is said to be the key to solving environmental problems such as global energy problems and global warming, and is expected to be realized at an early stage. In particular, fusion power generation using high-power lasers is the ultimate industrial application using optical and laser technologies, and we are aiming to create a new optical industry centered on laser fusion.

High-energy lasers are just "Key enabling technology" to open unexpected possibilities of the light. Many kind of applications would be discovered by the high energy lasers in "Energy", "Envioroment", "Medical", "Space", "Material" fields. We promote the practical development of the world's highest level high-energy laser, and contribute to realization of the sustanalbe society by creating new value.

Development of laser processing technology

Development of laser processing technology

In recent years there has been an increased occasion where a laser is used as a tool in manufacturing industries. Utilizing laser allows us to process a thing that was impossible before by controlling laser output, wavelength, temporal and spatial properties. For example, when the high-energy laser pulse that we developed is irradiated onto a metal material, a high-pressure state with more than 10,000 atm can be created instantly. As a result, a shockwave propagates inside the material, improving fatigue strength. We will aim to develop innovative laser processing technologies by adapting light-related products.

Development of novel optical materials

Development of novel optical materials

Creation of novel optical materials which has high quality and high functionality is one of core technics required for next generation research, such as study of laser inertial fusion, development of basic technology of innovative high-power lasers, and so on. Our group is challenging to develop of laser control and laser amplification materials to generate high-energy laser pulses to ignite nuclear fusion reaction, scintillator materials to detect photons and quantum particles generated in fusion reaction.