Gérard Mourou: Nobel Lecture in Physics, 2018

Transcript

our next speaker is Professor Geronimo who who is a French scientist and a pioneer in the field of laser physics he was born in June 1944 in Alda havilah in the French Alps a town probably best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics at least until now Moreau started his career in physics at the University of Grenoble ALP getting his diploma in ... Read More

Summary

Professor Geronimo is a French scientist and a pioneer in the field of laser physics. He discusses the history and development of high intensity lasers and the various applications they have in a wide range of fields, including quantum optics, particle acceleration, medical therapy, and nuclear waste transmutation. He highlights the importance of extreme light in generating large fields, high temperatures, and pressures, and expresses optimism for the future of science and technology in this field.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the background of Professor Geronimo?

Professor Geronimo is a French scientist and pioneer in laser physics. He was born in Alda havilah, France in June 1944 and started his career in physics at the University of Grenoble ALP, obtaining his diploma in 1967. He later received his doctorate from Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris in 1973. He spent a major part of his career in the United States, particularly at the laboratory of laser energetics at the University of Rochester, where he worked with Donna Strickland.

Q: What is the chair-pose amplification technique?

The chair-pose amplification technique is a technique developed by Professor Geronimo and Donna Strickland that is at the core of most high-powered laser facilities in the world. It involves the use of chirped pulse amplification (CPA), where the pulse of a laser is stretched out in time, amplified, and then compressed back to its original duration, resulting in extremely high peak powers.

Q: What are the applications of high intensity lasers?

High intensity lasers have a wide range of applications. They can be used in quantum optics to slow down and cool atoms, in particle acceleration to accelerate particles like electrons to near the speed of light, in medical therapy for precise laser surgery, and in nuclear waste transmutation to mitigate radioactive waste. They can also generate extremely high pressures and temperatures, leading to discoveries in fields like high-energy physics and cosmology.

Q: How are femtosecond lasers used in micromachining?

Femtosecond lasers are used in micromachining because their short pulses allow for precise material removal without heating surrounding areas. This is because the heat generated by the laser has no time to propagate before the material is ablated. This precise and clean micromachining technique has applications in various industries, including electronics and medical devices.

Q: What are the advantages of proton therapy for cancer treatment?

Proton therapy is a form of radiation therapy for cancer treatment that uses protons instead of other types of radiation. It is advantageous because protons have a higher mass compared to other particles, which allows them to deposit their energy more precisely in tumors without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. This makes proton therapy especially suitable for treating tumors near critical organs or in pediatric patients.

Q: Can high intensity lasers be used in energy production?

High intensity lasers themselves are not used in energy production, but they can contribute to nuclear energy by transmuting nuclear waste. By changing the isotopes of the waste through laser interactions, it is possible to convert highly radioactive isotopes into stable or short-lived isotopes, reducing the long-term hazard of the waste. This could potentially make nuclear energy a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option.

Q: How are high intensity x-rays used in laser Wakefield acceleration?

High intensity x-rays are used in laser Wakefield acceleration to penetrate solid materials and produce plasma waves that can trap and accelerate electrons. By using high intensity lasers and x-rays, these acceleration techniques can produce high energy particles in a compact device. The goal is to develop high energy x-ray lasers that can be used for proton therapy, materials science, and even to explore the fundamental properties of the vacuum itself.

Q: What are the challenges in transmuting nuclear waste?

Transmuting nuclear waste is a challenging task. One of the challenges is finding a suitable form of nuclear waste that can be effectively transmuted. Additionally, the process of transmutation requires precise control over the nuclear reactions, as well as ensuring the safety and containment of the waste materials. It is an ongoing area of research and development that aims to find solutions for dealing with the long-term radioactive waste generated by nuclear energy production.

Takeaways

Professor Geronimo's talk emphasizes the incredible possibilities and potential of extreme light and high intensity lasers. From slowing down atoms to accelerating particles, from precise micromachining to cancer therapy, and from investigating the nature of vacuum to cleaning up nuclear waste, high intensity lasers offer a wide range of applications in science and technology. With advancements in laser technology and the development of compact devices, the future of high intensity lasers looks bright.