Petawatt laser pulses

We have developed a hybrid Ti:sapphire–Nd:glass laser system that produces more than 1500 TW (1.5 PW) of peak power. The system produces 660 J of power in a compressed $440\pm 20 \text{fs}$ pulse by use of 94-cm master diffraction gratings. Focusing to an irradiance of $>7\times {10}^{20} \mathrm{W}/{\text{cm}}^2$ is achieved by use of a Cassegrainian focusing system employing a plasma mirror.