ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure

The Extreme Light Infrastructure, called ELI, is a european project which will provide in ~ 2015 a new infrastructure for an ultra-high intensity laser to investigate laser-matter interactions in the unexplored ultra-relativistic regime.

picture from ELI-Wikipedia

From 13 european countries, more than 50 institutes are involved and cooperating for this project. The preparatory phase will end in November 2010, followed by a construction period of 5 years. The project will have 4 facilities located in Hungary, Czech Republic and Romania. The last location will be decided in 2012. The research focuses onto three fields:

1. Ultra high science field (exploring laser-matter interaction)


2. Attosecond laser science (temporal investigation of electron dynamics)


3. High Energy Beam Science (development of ultra-short pulses of high energy radiation and particles (100 GeV) for fundamental and applied sciences)

But ELI is not only relevant for scientists. Public will benefit too of ELI as new techniques in medicine will be developed like new radiography and hadron theraphy methods. A big field will be also the laser driven nuclear physics which can help to find new ways to treat nuclear waste.
ELI will be a unique laser facility on the world, opening new ways to the secrets of matter on the ultra-short timescale. Although, 2015 seems to be far away, if you start now with your phd or study, you will be finished around the time when ELI will show its "first light", a perfect time or ;)?

Sources and links:
ELI - offical site
ELI-Wikipedia
ELI Beamlines Facility in the Czech Republic (only in czech)

picture from OSAL