New Laser Oscillator Sets Record by generating 550 Watts of Ultra-Short Pulses

A team of researchers at ETH Zurich has achieved a new record of producing the strongest ultra-short laser pulses. The team produced 550 watts of power, i.e., energy of 100 µJ, surpassing the previous maximum by 50%. Researchers claim that the pulses can reach the power of 100 megawatts, which in theory is sufficient enough to power one lakh vacuum cleaners. To achieve the recording breaking power and pulse rates, researchers used two innovations. First, a special mirror arrangement sends the light inside the laser. Second, SESAM – a mirror arrangement whose reflectivity depends on the intensity of the light striking it.