Laser breakthrough for ultra-intense pulses advance nuclear fusion

Scientists from the University of Oxford and Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich have developed a novel technique called RAVEN (Real-time Acquisition of Vectorial Electromagnetic Near-fields) to measure the complete profile of ultra-intense laser pulses in a single shot. Tested on Germany’s ATLAS-3000 petawatt-class laser, RAVEN captures distortions and wave shifts in real-time, enabling immediate fine-tuning of the laser system. Unlike previous methods that required hundreds of firings to build a full picture, RAVEN provides a comprehensive spatio-temporal characterization—including shape, timing, and alignment—from just one image, offering unprecedented insights into laser-matter interactions. The technique works by splitting the laser beam, analyzing its color changes over time, and separating light based on polarization through a crystal, with a grid of micro-lenses capturing the pulse’s wavefront structure. This data is then reconstructed by a neural network to reveal the pulse’s detailed profile instantly. This real-time feedback