Course on High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion
Online course of 300 h in High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion. 6 modules covering IEC 60825-1 (safety of laser products), Directive 2006/25/EC (artificial optical radiation) and Zemax OpticStudio. Dedicated tutor and enrolment open.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the principles of inertial confinement fusion.
Describe the architectures of high-power lasers and amplification.
Analyse laser-plasma interaction at a conceptual level.
Characterise beams according to ISO 11146.
Evaluate laser-induced damage in optical components.
Apply laser safety regulations in laboratories.
Compare the main international inertial fusion programmes.
Who it's for
- Laser systems engineer looking to specialise in High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion.
- Inertial confinement fusion researcher looking to specialise in High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion.
- Optical engineer looking to specialise in High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion.
- Laser safety technician looking to specialise in High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion.
- Plasma physicist looking to specialise in High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion.
- Instrumentation engineer looking to specialise in High-Power Laser Technologies in Fusion.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into nuclear fusion.
What you'll work with
- IEC 60825-1 (safety of laser products)
- Directive 2006/25/EC (artificial optical radiation)
- ANSI Z136.1 (safe use of lasers)
- ISO 11146 (laser beam widths and divergence)
- ISO 21254 (laser-induced damage threshold)
- EN 207 (laser eye protection)
- ISO 10110 (drawings of optical elements)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Stimulated emission and population inversion1.2Active media: neodymium glass and Yb:YAG1.3Cavities and modes1.4Bandwidth and pulse duration1.5Amplification and the Frantz-Nodvik equation1.6Beam quality and the M² factor1.7Gaussian optics and propagation1.8Thermal effects in the active medium1.9Laser safety according to IEC 60825-11.10Practice: calculating amplifier gain
2.1The NIF Laser Chain 2.2 Laser Mégajoule Architecture 2.3 Flashlamp-Pumped Disc Amplifiers 2.4 Spatial Filtering and Image Relaying 2.5 Third-Harmonic Conversion 2.6 Wavefront Control and Adaptive Optics 2.7 Beam Smoothing: SSD and Phase Plates 2.8 Optical Damage Threshold 2.9 Management and Repair of Damaged Optics 2.10 Workshop: Energy Balance of a Laser Beamline
3.1Chirped pulse amplification (CPA)3.2Petawatt lasers3.3Diode-pumped lasers3.4Cryogenic ytterbium lasers3.5The European ELI infrastructure3.6Repetition rate required for a power plant3.7Wall-plug-to-optical efficiency3.8Coherent combination of fibre lasers3.9KrF and ArF excimer lasers3.10Lab: designing a CPA scheme
4.1Collisional and resonance absorption4.2Stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering4.3Cross-beam energy transfer4.4Self-focusing and filamentation4.5Hot electron generation4.6Laser ion acceleration4.7Secondary X-ray sources4.8PIC simulation of the interaction4.9Mitigation through bandwidth4.10Practice: threshold of a parametric instability
5.1Laser requirements for an inertial fusion plant5.2Reliability and availability5.3Final optics and debris protection5.4Thermal management and cooling5.5Driver costs and economics5.6Timing, control and diagnostics5.7The laser industry and supply chain5.8Laser safety regulations at facilities5.9Transfer to industry and medicine5.10Case study: laser requirements for a 1 GW plant
6.1Energy and pulse shape requirements6.2Selecting the active medium6.3Amplification architecture6.4Frequency conversion and final optics6.5Efficiency balance6.6Optical damage analysis6.7Cost estimate6.8Design conclusions6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake period, making it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The software used is Zemax OpticStudio, FLASH (radiation hydrodynamics), MATLAB, Python (SciPy), in free, academic or trial versions. Testing is studied through real procedures from laser beam characterisation, damage threshold measurements on optics, safety analysis in laser laboratories. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus a final capstone project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the principles of inertial confinement fusion.
Describe the architectures of high-power lasers and amplification.
Analyse laser-plasma interaction at a conceptual level.
Characterise beams according to ISO 11146.
Evaluate laser-induced damage in optical components.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- A level of English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with Zemax OpticStudio, FLASH (radiation hydrodynamics), MATLAB, Python (SciPy). Free, academic or trial versions are used, and your tutor will point out a free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the capstone project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state-accredited degree.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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