Lund Laser Centre Laboratories

LLC

The LLC is a partner in Laserlab Europe.

The Lund Laser Centre (LLC) was established in 1995 as an organisation for interdisciplinary research and collaboration in the fields of optics, spectros¬copy and lasers at the Lund University. At the LLC a broad range of activities are pursued within several different research divisions and groups at the engineering, natural sciences and medical faculties, and at the MAX-IV laboratory. The centre comprises today about 120 scientists, including 19 professors and about 65 PhD students.

Directly after its establishment, the LLC was successful in its application to the EC as a ""European Large Scale Facility"", and after favourable evaluations and follow-up applications it has remained at this status of European excellence. The LLC is one of the founding members of the EC consortium Laserlab-Europe, presently comprising 33 leading laser research infrastructures in 16 EU countries. The LLC director (CGW) is since 2012 the coordinator of the consortium. A very large number of international research groups have visited the LLC within the EC supported Laserlab-Europe Access Programme.

The Centre has extraordinary resources in terms of scientific expertise, advanced laser systems (more than 30 major systems, including a 10 Hz, 40 terawatt laser), detection and auxiliary equipment. Experimental techniques range from high-resolution (CW) to ultra- fast (attosecond) spectroscopy with accessible spectral region from THz radiation to X-rays.
The laboratories include pump/probe setups, X-ray and electron spectrometers for advanced time-resolved and particle acceleration studies, as well as research on ultrafast optics and few-cycle optical pulse metrology. Time-resolved atomic and molecular laser spectroscopy experiments can be carried out thanks to a unique laser spectroscopic set-up. Quantum optics/information is studied using coherent transient techniques and spectroscopy of low-temperature rare-earth-ion doped crystals. Femtochemistry laser experiments are used for studies of, e.g. natural and artificial photosynthesis, natural pigments, novel types of solar cells and their constituent materials, reaction dynamics and coherent control, and time-resolved diffraction studies are made of solids, and advanced single molecule spectroscopy of polymers and biomolecules.
Biomedical applications with fluorescence diagnostics, tissue optics and photodynamic tumour therapy can also be accommodated within LLC as well as time-resolved scattering media spectroscopy and gas-in-scattering-media studies. Environmental monitoring can be made using a mobile laser radar system, which can be used for atmospheric mapping, marine and vegetation monitoring. Combustion diagnostics of reactive flows using fluorescence and scattering techniques can be made using high-repetition rate and short pulse laser systems.

Physical access. The LLC provides extensive technical and scientific support to its external users, but the users remain in charge of their own experiments. The users normally never operates the lasers directly, but are provided with the laser beam to their experiments. The LLC also provides appropriate laser safety instructions and training to all users.

All data is generated and stored locally. When external users do experiments at the LLC they normally bring a copy of all recorded data with them home on a portable memory.

The Lund Laser Centre is governed by a Board with members appointed by the LU Vice Chancellor, after recommendations from the participating faculties and organizations, for a time duration of 3 years, renewable. Chairman and Director are also appointed by the Vice Chancellor, likewise for 3 year periods.