Extreme Light Infrastructure officially becomes an international organization
Prague, Czech Republic--The Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI)—a pan-European network of laser laboratories that intends to produce the most intense laser light in the world—has been established as an international association called the ELI Delivery Consortium International Association. The ceremony was held on April 11, 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. (The Union of International Associations is located in Brussels.)
Related: THE EXTREME LIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE: The ELI aims to break down the vacuum
Related: EU approves Extreme Light Infrastructure
Related: Refraction of gamma rays in silicon opens the way for gamma-ray optics
The founding members of the ELI-DC International Association are three international scientific institutions: the Romanian “Horia Hulubei” National Institute of Research and Development for Physics and Nuclear Engineering (which will develop laser particle accelerators); the Hungarian ELI-Hu Research and Development Non-Profit Limited Liability Company (devoted to attosecond dynamics and ultrahigh-intensity lasers); and the Italian Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A.
The Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (developing laser plasma accelerators) will join the Association immediately after its establishment. Institutions from other European countries are expected to follow.
The nonprofit organization will develop and coordinate the various ELI research facilities, and will also create a consortium in charge of the future operation of ELI, most likely in the form of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).
John Wallace | Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)
John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.