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PDFThe Texas Petawatt Project is an ongoing venture of the High Intensity Laser Science Group at The University of Texas at Austin. The Texas Petawatt Project has proved to be the most powerful, fully operational laser in the world, with its final power output documented to reach 1.1 PW (one quadrillion watts).
What differentiates this laser from other similar lasers under development is that it delivers substantially shorter pulses – as short as 130 femtoseconds – which allows for many unique high-energy density physics experiments with principles such as particle fusion for alternative energy research and other applications of controlled and extremely compacted energy. In addition to effectively studying the possibilities for future fuel sources, we can create the conditions of supernovas, including the plasma associated with various astrophysical phenomena, on a small scale.
Using NI products, we successfully developed a control system that can precisely control the charging, firing, amplification, and targeting of the world’s most powerful operating laser.
NI LabVIEW software and PXI instrumentation manage all aspects of laser operations and verify human and machine safety before firing. The core of the control system is a CPU running LabVIEW and is connected to a data-logging and supervisory control (DSC) engine to interface with field PCs, which use LabVIEW as the common communication software. These field PCs and various PXI controllers interface with and control all of our instruments.
Because of their power, flexibility, and ease of use, we use LabVIEW, PXI controllers, the LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control Module, the LabVIEW Real-Time Module, and LabVIEW data server and Web capabilities. We can manage several hundred control points and different instruments within the laser system, including motion and vision devices, switches, limiters, digital and analog data traces, triggers, and other equipment.
– Dr. Erhard Gaul Head Scientist, Texas Petawatt Project, The University of Texas at Austin
Learn more about NI solutions for advanced physics applications.
Updated Textbooks Include More Preparatory Materials
LabVIEW 2009 Student Edition
Robert H. Bishop
Prentice Hall
ISBN-13: 9780132141291 (Educational)
ISBN-13: 9780132141314 (Professional)
The LabVIEW 2009 Student Edition textbook incorporates many new NI LabVIEW features, problem sets, and relaxed readings. With an updated appendix designed for Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD) test preparation and LabVIEW Student Edition software included, this text continues to be one of the most popular ways to learn LabVIEW.
Learn more and view ordering information.
Discrete-Time Signal Processing
(Third Edition)
Alan V. Oppenheim
Ronald W. Schafer
Prentice Hall
ISBN-13: 9780131988422
The third edition of Discrete-Time Signal Processing includes a companion Web site so readers can hear, see, and interact with versions of select figures from the text. Termed “live figures,” these signal processing simulations, based on LabVIEW software, strengthen students’ understanding of crucial concepts
Learn more and view ordering information.
This article first appeared in the Q4 2009 issue of Instrumentation Newsletter.
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