Science

Meet ZEUS: The World's Most Powerful Laser at 2 Petawatts!

2025-05-20

Author: Wai

A Groundbreaking Achievement in Laser Technology!

The University of Michigan has unveiled a remarkable feat in scientific innovation: the Zettawatt-Equivalent Ultrashort pulse laser System, known as ZEUS, has achieved an astonishing power output of 2 petawatts—or 2 quadrillion watts! This groundbreaking power is more than 100 times the total global electricity output, showcasing an immense leap forward in laser technology.

What This Power Means for Science!

But don’t get too excited about cosmic superweapons akin to the Death Star just yet! These ultra-powerful laser pulses last only a mere 25 quintillionths of a second. Instead, ZEUS will primarily be used to fuel groundbreaking research in fields such as medicine, quantum physics, and materials science.

A $16 Million Investment in Future Discovery!

Funded by the US National Science Foundation, ZEUS is a $16 million investment into the future of scientific exploration. A standout feature of this marvel is its 7-inch sapphire crystals infused with titanium, which took over four years to manufacture. As Franko Bayer, the project manager, emphasized, "The size of the titanium sapphire crystal we have, there are only a few in the world!"

How ZEUS Transforms Light!

Operating ZEUS is not as simple as flicking a switch. The process begins with an initial infrared pulse, boosted through four rounds of pump lasers to increase its energy. To prevent the pulse from tearing the air apart, it passes through diffraction gratings that stretch its intensity, eventually entering vacuum chambers where it condenses to just 0.8 microns wide—to unleash maximum power!

The First Experiment!

In the pioneering experiment led by Franklin Dollar, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, ZEUS targeted a helium-filled cell. This collision generated plasma, creating a chaotic mix of free electrons and positively charged ions. Excitingly, this setup allows for wakefield acceleration, a process where electrons ride the waves created by the laser pulse—much like surfers riding the wake of a speedboat.

Revolutionizing Particle Acceleration!

The endpoint of this groundbreaking research is to generate electron beams that match the intensity of those produced by traditional particle accelerators but without the need for lengthy and expensive hardware installations.

The Future Looks Bright!

Housed in a facility comparable in size to a school gymnasium at the university’s Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, ZEUS is a significant upgrade from the HERCULES laser, which previously reached 300 terawatts in 2007. First unveiled in 2022, ZEUS is currently the most powerful laser in the US and is expected to reach an even more impressive 3 petawatts in the future.

A Global Perspective!

Yet, while ZEUS stands as a titan in laser technology, it’s essential to note that its power still falls short of the 10 petawatts produced by the European ELI-NP laboratory in Măgurele, Romania. The race for laser supremacy continues, paving the way for incredible scientific breakthroughs!