Vulcan 20-20 Project

September 29, 2023

The UK is undertaking a groundbreaking project to create the world’s most powerful laser, called “Vulcan 20-20,” with an £85 million investment from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. This laser, anticipated to be a million billion times brighter than the sun, is expected to have profound implications for various scientific fields, including clean energy and cancer treatment.

Vulcan 20-20: A Revolution in Laser Technology

The “Vulcan 20-20” is currently underway at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Central Laser Facility (CLF) in Oxfordshire. This endeavor promises far-reaching implications, with the potential to revolutionize scientific exploration across various domains, including clean energy and advancements in cancer treatment.

Unprecedented Capabilities

The name “Vulcan 20-20” reflects its extraordinary capabilities.
This laser will generate a primary beam with a staggering energy output of 20 Petawatts (PW), accompanied by eight high-energy beams with outputs of up to 20 Kilojoules (KJ).
This remarkable enhancement represents a twentyfold increase in power, positioning the Vulcan 20-20 at the pinnacle of laser supremacy.
Remarkably, a single pulse from this laser will deliver more power than the entire National Grid, according to UK Research and Innovation, the project’s sponsor.

Surpassing the Sun and Economic Implications

The current flagship laser within CLF, the Vulcan laser, renowned for its versatility in plasma physics, will be dwarfed by the Vulcan 20-20’s capabilities. This new laser will shine a light a hundred times brighter than even the most intense sunlight witnessed in the Sahara Desert.

Its significance spans across various scientific fields, including clean energy sources. It is expected to create numerous skilled jobs in science and engineering, contributing to the UK’s science sector and overall economic growth.

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