The 2ndFranco-Russian ISTC Workshop took place on 9-11 March in Le Barp, France, with the objective to facilitate scientific exchange between Russian scientists from leading research institutes working in the domain of high intensity laser physics and French scientists working on the large scale project PETAL. The participants discussed the diagnostic and large optical equipment that could be built and used for the PETAL installation on a collaborative basis.
Russian scientists expressed their interest in the development of diagnostic equipment for the PETAL installation. In exchange, the Russian scientists would have a possibility to participate in the PETAL experiments and to have access to the experimental data. Furthermore, the Russian party invited the French scientists to take part in experiments at the FEMTO facility, which is part of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center located in the city of Sarov. 
The workshop was concluded with the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Association Lasers and Plasmasand the Federation of Research Lasers and Plasmas from the French side, the Russian Academy of Sciences from the Russian side, and the International Science and Technology Center. 
Following the fruitful exchange between the French and Russian scientists at the first workshop (Moscow, November 2008) and at the second workshop (Le Barp, March 2009) it was agreed to continue the organization of such meetings every year. The subjects of future workshops will be defined on a consultative basis. Scientists from other countries such as Germany, United Kingdom, and Czech Republic, will be invited to participate. 
The participants of the Workshop are encouraged to prepare and submit their bilateral projects concerning the fundamental physics of high intensity laser-matter interaction and the diagnostic development for the PETAL project within the ISTC framework and/or the agreement between CNRS and RFBR. 

PETAL is a 3.5 kJ, 0.5 – 10 ps, PetaWatt-class laser which is under construction in the Aquitaine region, France. It is a fore-runner to the HiPER facility carrying out research on the inertial confinement fusion physics by using the fast ignition approach and fundamental physics. Its mission is to address the physics and technology issues of strategic relevance for the fast ignition and provide a framework for the basic studies of the matter properties at extreme conditions

• Workshop Program
• List of Participants
• Scientific Collaboration Program with PETAL
• Memorandum of Understanding Download
• Presentations Given at the Event
• Results of 24-25 November Workshop "Russian ELI/HiPER/PETAL at ISTC"