UK’s CLF laser facility achieves first light after £17 million transformation

19 May 2025

Success for HiLUX “ultra infrared” laser; Artemis EUV system set to switch on later in 2025.

The UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Central Laser Facility (CLF) has produced the first light from a major £17.0 million ($22.8 million) laser transformation.

The first light for project HiLUX was achieved on its Ultra infrared laser system, with the Artemis extreme-ultraviolet laser system expected to switch on later this year. This change boosts the laser’s power by 10 to 100 times, making it possible to create secondary light sources, the CLF statement noted.

From low-energy terahertz to high-energy extreme ultraviolet, scientists can exploit these light sources to study the smallest and fastest natural processes in our world. The CLF statement added, “This bespoke technology will enable researchers to conduct experiments with unprecedented precision and efficiency, providing revolutionary capabilities.”

These include:

• Measurement across multiple timescales, allowing scientists to follow nature’s whole cascade of events;
• Capture of more material properties in a single experiment, observing both vibrational and electronic properties of molecules simultaneously;
• Detection of previously hidden signals with new levels of sensitivity;
• Highly efficient and rapid experimentation, enabling wider access for more diverse research challenges; and
• Advanced automation that allows non-expert users to quickly reconfigure experiments

‘Transformation’

Dr Greg Greetham, one of the lead scientists on the HiLUX project, commented, “We have reached a natural limit with existing technology that, while still world-leading, restrict the range of experiments we can do and the level of output we can get from them. This transformation enables us to extend our techniques into far more complex systems with real-world applications.”

The enhanced systems will support research across multiple disciplines, including: physics and chemistry of ultrafast processes; drug discovery; advanced materials for future technologies; and the fundamental understanding of matter.

The CLF operates as a free-at-point-of-use resource for qualified researchers, supporting hundreds of experiments annually across diverse scientific disciplines in addition to supporting industry partners address their research challenges.

The CLF added, “Collectively, this £17 million investment positions the CLF at the forefront of ultrafast laser science and reaffirms the UK’s commitment to maintaining world-leading research infrastructure in advanced photonics and laser science.”

The new systems, manufactured by Light Conversion and delivered through Photonics Solutions, were customised to CLF’s specifications. The Projects and Mechanical Engineering group at the STFC Technology Department provided mechanical design throughout the HiLUX project, delivering numerous bespoke mechanical solutions.