On May 28 – June 4, 2011 a visit of 12 Russian laser experts from 10 leading institutions of Russia to Japan took place in the framework of the ISTC TI “Ultra-High Intensity Light Science and Technologies”. 

This visit has been organized by the ISTC in collaboration with Kansai Photon Science Institute (KPSI) of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, JAEA, with the assistance of MEXT (Japan). 

The visit was aimed to create sustainable lasting mechanisms of cooperation between both Russian and Japanese laser communities in the domain of high power and high intensity lasers to extend the frontiers for fundamental science, material processing and medicine. In particular, the attention of the participants was focused on the following topics:

- development of the next generation of ultra-high intensity lasers;
- laser driven ion acceleration; 
- application of laser-accelerated high-energy ion beams in proton therapy;
- development of THz and EUV sources for material science and industrial application;
- laser driven fusion energy.

The schedule of this visit included 3 following events:

1. Participation in the 3rd International Symposium “Laser-Driven Relativistic Plasmas Applied to Science, Energy, Industry, and Medicine”, LDRP-2011, 30 May - 02 June, Kansai Photon Science Institute, Kizugawa-city, Kyoto; 

2. Visit to the Institute of Laser Engineering (ILE), Osaka University, June 2, 2011; 

3. Visit to the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, June 3, 2011.


For the first time the both Russian Nuclear Federal Centers – VNIIEF, Sarov, and VNIIETF, Snezhinsk, were presented to the Japanese ultra-high intensity lasers community. The program of Symposium in Kyoto and visits to ILE, Osaka University, and to KEK, was very tight. Results of the visit help the Russian laser experts to better understand the key interests and activities of the Japanese laser community and allow them to establish collaboration with a better knowledge of peculiarities of Japanese and Russian science.

ISTC Targeted Initiative on Ultra-High Intensity Light Science and Technologies

In 2008 the ISTC launched a new targeted initiative (TI): Ultra-High Intensity Light Science and Technologies. One of the main objectives of this TI is to facilitate international partnership in the field of high power and high intensity lasers to extend the frontiers of fundamental science, material processing, medicine and energy through coordination of activities of research centers, governmental agencies and private organizations. An ISTC TI working group headed by Prof. S. Garanin (RFNC-VNIIEF, Sarov) and Prof. A. Sergeev (IAP RAS, N. Novgorod) was established in December 2009 to implement the ISTC Governing Board decisions and to develop scenarios of possible collaboration. 

To date the ISTC has organized 5 workshops in the framework of the Targeted Initiative. A special ISTC session, dedicated to the ISTC TI was organized in the frame of the 2010 ICUIL Conference in Watkins Glen, New York, USA, September 26 – October 1, 2010.

The objective for 2011 is to ensure lasting sustainable cooperation mechanisms among Russian laser community. The announced ISTC- JAEA joint meetings will allow us to facilitate the cooperation between Russian and Japanese scientists.

Coordinator of the ISTC Targeted Initiative - Dr. Yuri Malakhov.