http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news.xml 2012-02-02T08:30:00+00:00 text/html 2012-02-02T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2012/02/amplitude-systemes-wins-prism-awards-154.html The Prism awards are an international competition recognizing cutting-edge products that break conventional ideas and improve life through photonics. The Satsuma ultrafast fiber laser has been recognised as the best industrial laser on the market today. The Satsuma HE is a compact, high energy ultrafast fiber laser, delivering ultrashort pulse duration ( as low as 250 fs), high repetition rate (1 MHz or more) and high energy (up to 10 µJ) in a compact, and highly stable housing. It is the most advanced ultrafast fiber laser available on the market today. text/html 2012-01-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2012/01/lift-project-partner-quantel-report-progress-on-euronews-152.html Quantel presented the development of new visible fibre lasers for diagnosis and treatment in ophthalmology. The power and compact nature of fibre lasers means they are great for industry, but now French firm Quantel is looking to take them into a whole new spectrum of applications. Appearing on the Euronews Innovation television series, David Pureur and Mathieu Jacquemet showed the latest results from the cooperative European research and innovation project LIFT. “We work on a new generation of lasers based on fibre optics. So the laser is produced in the optical fibre. It delivers a great beam quality, and it has lots of power. It is easy to use and transport. We are trying to develop visible light lasers that are really powerful, with specific colours, greens, yellows, reds, for use in medical applications,” says fibre laser engineer Mathieu Jacquemet. After months of work the researchers here in Brittany have begun to perfect coloured fibre lasers. “We work in ophthalmology; everything has to do with retina correction. So we need colour to penetrate the eye, so we need power to be able to achieve what we call a process of photocoagulation, to be able to correct faults in the retina,” says the R&D manager David Pureur. “In this type of fibre laser there are several key components. The first is fibre laser with an invisible infra red output. Then, to transform the infrared light into a visible laser beam, we focus the light in a non-linear crystal” says Jacquemet. As Quantel develops its products, it is working with other high-tech partners in an EU project LIFT on fibre lasers. “We bring together people who develop components such as the fibre optics, people who develop pump diodes, people who develop special crystals, and the interest is to work along the whole integration chain so that we at Quantel, who assemble the parts, have a better specification than our competitors. Today fiber lasers reach several tens of thousands of watts in a tiny little fibre, and that will continue to go up,” says Pureur. The video report can be viewed on Euronews starting on 29 December 2011, or at http://www.euronews.net/2011/12/16/quantel-eyes-the-future-of-lasers Quantel website www.quantel.com LIFT project website www.lift-project.eu About LIFT - Leadership In Fibre Laser Technology, is a collaborative, large-scale integrated project funded by the NMP Directorate with the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission. The goal of the LIFT project is to expand the limits of advanced materials processing applications through a new generation of high brilliance lasers. LIFT will enable a greater market share for existing applications, create new application areas for manufacturing, and build a European network of components' suppliers and laser system manufacturers. For further information, please contact: Martine Keim-Paray EPIC 17, rue de l'Amiral Hamelin 75016 Paris, France Keim-paray@epic-assoc.com Web site: www.lift-project.eu text/html 2011-09-20T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2011/09/alphanov-strengthens-and-expands-141.html ALPhANOV, the Optics and Laser Technology Center of the Route des Lasers cluster (Bordeaux – France) just hired three new employees, and fleshing out its management team. These new hires accompany a reorganization of activities and a new location at the City of Photonics in Pessac in the outskirts of Bordeaux. text/html 2011-07-25T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2011/07/fist-facility-for-the-technological-platform-in-wuhan-136.html Following the trade agreement Route des Lasers (Aquitaine) had signed with the Optoelectronics National Laboratory of Wuhan (WNLO) introducing a common technological platform, a representative from the French company Amplitude Système has gone to Wuhan to set up the first steps of this agreement. The arrival of this first facility signals the beginning of collaborations between French and Chinese teams. Every two months until 2012, French engineers would come in Wuhan to work on laser micro-machining process. text/html 2011-04-28T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2011/04/bordeaux-route-des-lasers-at-laser-world-of-photonics2011-128.html Bordeaux " Route des Lasers " will take part in Laser World of Photonics 2011 Hall C1- Stand 121 For the 4th consecutive time, Bordeaux " Route des Lasers " will take part in the World's leading trade fair for the laser & photonics sector - Munich, May 23 - 26, 2011. The collective stand C1-121, under the banner of the competitiveness cluster “Bordeaux Route des Lasers” will gather some leaders in laser/photonics industry, to show their latest innovations. Some “Route des Lasers” latest innovations at Laser World of Photonics 2011! - ALPhANOV www.alphanov.com, will present 3 of its latest innovations: High Power multimode coupler 1:N, Pulse on demand module, High Brightness multimode pump combiner - Amplitude Systèmes www.amplitude-systemes.com, will be displaying its line of lasers: Satsuma™, a high-energy ultrafast fiber laser, Tangerine™ ultrafast fiber amplifier and t-Pulse Duo™, a compact dual-oscillator ultrafast laser system - Azur Light Systems www.azurlight-systems.com, will present two new fiber lasers, ALS-IR (10W TEMoo at 976nm) and ALS-BLUE (1W TEMoo at 488 nm) - EOLITE Systems www.eolite.com, will introduce new rod-type fiber laser models - BOREAS IE-IR300, BOREAS HF-G60, BOREAS HF-UV14-, and a new breakthrough in picoseconds laser with HEGOA - ES Technology www.eslaser.com, offers now an innovative mobile laser marking system, simple to implement and secure, the es PISTOL - Imagine Optic www.imagine-optic.com, will show two of their high-performance wavefront analysis & adaptive optics solutions, AOKit™ - bio and HASO™ R-FLEX™ - Innoptics www.innoptics.com, will introduce a new range of high-power laser sources based on VCSEL array laser diodes, up to 500 CW - Polyrise www.polyrise.com, will present a new version of the monolayer VIEWRISE® (on a PC substrates, reflection of the order of 0,5% between 500 and 600nm) text/html 2011-03-15T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2011/03/amplitude-systemes-opens-office-in-taiwan-124.html Located in the capital city of Taipei, the office will provide sales and technical support to customers in the Asia-Pacific region. Quentin Mocaer, has been appointed to provide high quality support to our existing and future customers. According to Eric Mottay, CEO of Amplitude Systemes, "Headquartered in France, with operations in Boston and San Diego, our new office in Taiwan further increases our global presence, and will help us leverage the unique technical and product expertise of Amplitude Systemes to develop new industrial markets for ultrafast lasers in a dynamic region. It will also provide an increased level of support to our existing customers in the region." Amplitude Systemes develops and manufactures diode-pumped ultrafast lasers, managing the best of fiber and solid-state technologies, for both scientific and industrial applications. Contact: Quentin Mocaer Amplitude Systèmes 6F, 41 Dongsing Road, Sinyi District, Taipei 11070, Taiwan Tel. +886-2-87681068 qmocaer@amplitude-systemes.com text/html 2011-02-07T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2011/02/amplitude-systemes-finalist-of-prism-awards-121.html The Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation is an international competition that recognizes companies and products that break conventional ideas, solve problems, and improve life through photonics. Amplitude Systemes has been recognized for its Tangerine high power industrial ultrafast fiber laser. Offering the highest energy available from a commercial ultrafast laser, Tangerine enables new breakthrough in applications as diverse as photovoltaic, semiconductor, product traceability and biomedical manufacturing. text/html 2010-11-23T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/11/route-des-lasers-to-join-the-french-pythagoras-cluster-in-china-113.html A French optics cluster is currently being established in China under the name of Pythagoras. It will enable companies participating in the operation (currently 10) to take advantage of premises in Shanghai, while benefiting from personalized assistance and marketing actions in China, opportunities for funding for collaborative projects with Chinese companies and laboratories and shared communications campaigns at the main Chinese trade fairs in the industry. The Route des Lasers cluster, which has been represented in Wuhan for two years through the Aquitaine Region, wanted to join this French cluster to benefit from the grouped national dynamics of the installation. For example, Aquitaine companies now have a staffed office at their disposal on a time-share basis at the cluster's premises in Shanghai. In conjunction with Pythagoras, the cluster will soon set up in Wuhan to implement a joint technology platform with the Wuhan national optoelectronics laboratory and ALPhA, responsible for governance of the Route des Lasers cluster. All these actions, carried out in collaboration with members of CNOP (National Optics and Photonics Committee) and the international development assistance agencies - Ubifrance, COFACE - aim to facilitate both commercial and partnership approaches which French optics-photonics companies wish to carry out in China. text/html 2010-11-23T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/11/the-photon-d-or-and-photon-d-argent-awards-for-aquitaine-companies-114.html AZUR LIGHT SYSTEMS With this new distinction for its ALS-BLUE fiber laser, the fledgling Bordeaux company Azur Light Systems, already the winner of the 2010 competition for assistance in the creation of innovative technologies businesses from the French Ministry of Research, is receiving multiple awards. ALS-BLUE is the first 488 nm fiber laser, emitting over 1 W in a Gaussian mono-mode beam. This laser, based on new technology, is intended for the bio-instrumentation markets (flow cytometry, DNA sequencing). The main products from Azur Light Systems (ALS), based on unprecedented fiber laser wavelengths are joint developments of the ALPhANOV technology center and the CELIA laboratory (University of Bordeaux 1 / CNRS / CEA). Contact: Nicholas Traynor - ntraynor@azurlight-systems.com ALPhANOV The Photon d'Argent Award for the TeraConverter/TeraCAM confirms the role of ALPhANOV's technological center as a “technology amplifier” for innovative projects. Terahertz technology should quickly find relevant applications in the fast-moving fields of medicine, security and inspection. To promote its industrial integration, while reducing the complexity and cost of imagers, the TeraConverter power meter and the TeraCam camera represent innovation in infrared multispectral imaging. This technological advance brings together researchers from the TREFLE laboratory (thermal measurements) and the ALPhANOV R&D team. The technology has been patented jointly with the CNRS. Contact: jean-pascal.caumes@alphanov.com * Each year, the Vitrine de l'Innovation, organized by Photoniques in collaboration with Société Française d'Optique and AFOP, the optics-photonics professional association, presents a selection of products and know-how developed by French R&D teams, awarding the most innovative with the Photon d'Or, Photon d'Argent or Photon de Bronze prizes. text/html 2010-11-23T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/11/study-commissioned-jointly-by-petal-lmj-115.html Alain Rousset, President of the Aquitaine Regional Council and Daniel Verwaerde, Director of military applications at CEA, signed an agreement on September 30 in Bordeaux for the realization of PETAL scientific equipment (PETawatt Aquitaine Laser) with Laser Mégajoule (LMJ). The first phase of the project, leading to validation of the technical options and qualification of the most critical components of the future laser, were completed in 2008. The question of coupling PETAL to a large laser was raised. The enormous potential offered by LMJ compared to the more limited features of LIL, in association with the rapprochement of the PETAL and LMJ projects, led to the proposal that PETAL be built in conjunction with LMJ. This agreement thus facilitates the creation of a very large facility in experimental physics for research into inertial confinement fusion, the study of matter under extreme conditions, and particle acceleration. The unique features of this large instrument will enable French and foreign scientists to explore new approaches to clean energy production, to recreate physical conditions in the laboratory that only occur for example in the stars, and to test various medical applications of laser-matter interaction physics. The agreement will lead to a three-party contract by the end of 2010 between the State, the Aquitaine region and CEA to define the technical and financial conditions for this development. text/html 2010-10-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/10/come-and-meet-us-89.html > The 7th Optics Valley of China International Optoelectronic Exposition and Forum (OVC EXPO 2010) November 2-5, 2010 - Wuhan (China) in the context of its partnership with Wuhan Optics Valley, the Route des Lasers cluster will be present at CVO EXPO 2010to showcase the skills of its companies and laboratories, and to present possibilities for technological cooperation. > Medica World Forum for Medicine (stand 17C23 H) November 17-20 - Dusseldorf Seven Aquitaine companies in thelaser and optical sector will be present at MEDICA, the largest European exhibition dedicated to hardware and solutionsfor the healthcare industry. Eolite Systems, laser 3 S, i2S Ophtimalia, RAL, SFRI and VIC, accompanied by ALPhA, will give visitors the opportunity to discover the photonics applications in a wide range of sectors including diagnostic analysis, lasers, ophthalmologycomponents / systems, and medical /biomedical imaging. For further information: francoise.metivier@2adi.aquitaine.fr > Technology partnership Meetings in Finland and Sweden November 22-25 - Helsinki, Tampere and Stockholm Mission, organized by Ubifrance, in partnership with ALPhA Route des Lasers, with the support of the DGCIS to enable French optics-photonics companies to meet with technology and industry partners through a program combining visits to sites and individual appointments. For further information: francoise.metivier@2adi.aquitaine.fr > Closing the 50 Years of Laser commemoration December 2, 2010 - Bordeaux Hôtel de Région Aquitaine The 50thanniversary commemorative year, launched at the Palais de la Découverte, Paris will hold its closing ceremony in Bordeaux, on December 2, 2010. This day-long event will be preceded by animpressive laser exhibition in the hall of Hôtel de Région Aquitaine on November 4. Programand registration: www.50ansdulaser.com > Photonics West exhibition January 25- 27, 2011 - San Francisco Bordeaux Route des Laserswill again be present,along with companies in the sector (ISP System, Eolite Systems, Imagine Optic, Innoptics, Azur Light Systems, amplitude systems) at the largest U.S. event in the laser, opto-electronics, medical optics and imaging sector. text/html 2010-10-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/10/launch-of-two-new-buildings-at-cite-de-la-photonique-96.html The SEML Route des Lasers has launchedconstruction of two new buildings at Cité de la Photonique, with delivery scheduled in the first quarter of 2011: -The first building: MEROPA, will have 500 m² of ISO 8 cleanrooms, and will welcome Amplitude Systems. - The second building, KHARA, will also be equipped with clean rooms, and will comply with BBC standards (low energy consumption building). The first company to set up there will be VIC (Vision Innovation Center), a subsidiary of EBC MEDICAL. Two otherbuildings will also be constructed at the Laseris science and technology park in Barp near the Laser Mégajoule site: - The GHIBLI Building (BBC) will include a roof equipped with approximately 1000 m² of photovoltaic panels that can produce 138 kWc. - DZARI is CEA's future data center. text/html 2010-10-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/10/creation-of-azur-light-systems-and-innoptics-97.html ALS, a company whose leading products originated through joint developments of the ALPhANOV technology center and the CELIA laboratory, specializes in design, industrialization and marketing of fiber lasers using unprecedented spectrum rangesto meet the needs of the bio-instrumentation, industrial measurement and surgery markets. Contact : Nicholas TRAYNOR – ntraynor@9online.fr Innoptics specializes in the integration of laser diodes in optoelectronic modules. In addition to design work for the packaging of diodes in multiple applications, Innoptics offers powerful laser sources based on technology that originated in the communications industry: (VCSEL) vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. The first applications targeted are industrial welding of polymers and medical equipment. Thanks to the support of ALPhANOV and CNRS-CPMOH, other applications in pulsed mode and new wavelengths are also being investigated. Contact : Stéphane DENET - sdenet@innoptics.com text/html 2010-10-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/10/vic-ebc-medical-s-r-d-center-sets-up-in-aquitaine-98.html Since 2004, EBC MEDICAL and the University Hospital of Bordeaux have been working on joint research themes, including biomechanics of the cornea and femtosecond laser action on the eye, up to the stage of clinical studies. EBC MEDICAL decided to consolidate this collaboration through the creation of a legal entity, VIC (Vision Innovation Center), at Cité de la Photonique, Pessac, in the Bordeaux metropolitan area. VIC aims to develop a laser which will make possible faster, more precise cataract surgery. Its goal is to develop an international industrial platform specialized in ophthalmology. text/html 2010-10-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/10/the-route-des-lasers-cluster-consolidates-its-base-in-the-health-sector-99.html > Le Bordeaux Imaging Center BIC (Bordeaux ImagingCenter) is a platform withthe national Biology Health and Agronomy Infrastructure (IBISA) label. It concentrates resources in photonics and electronic imagery, focusing primarily on health and plant science. This component of the functional genomics center of the University of Bordeaux 2,employs fifteen engineers. The BIC's focus take a three-pronged approach covering service-training-development. Service: BIC offers access to advanced bio-imaging equipment, such as video-microscopy, confocal and multiphoton microscopies, electronic transmission and scanning microscopy. With unique positioning in France in the field of ultra-high resolution imaging, BIC possesses high-end equipment, such as STED, PALM, FRAP and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to measuremolecular interactions. It also makes equipment available for the preparation of samples, such as the ultra-microtome, high pressure freezing (HPF) unit and facilities to receive live samples. Training: BIC offers a catalog of training courses at different levels (continuous training and organization of courses), from local training to international schools, in all areas of cell imaging. Development: An original aspect of BIC is its organization as a platform for innovation, application and transfer. In addition to R&Dproper in imaging techniques, a research team dedicated to quantitative cellular imaging works under the direction of JB Sibarita. Many collaborative industrial contracts are underwayin this context. BIC seeks to become aninternationally recognized platform of expertise and innovation in cellular imaging, particularly through its participation in the ESFRI EuroBioImaging project. Contact: daniel.choquet@pcs.u-bordeaux2.fr - www.bic.u-bordeaux2.fr > ALPhANOV implements ALPhAMED at the PTIB biomedical innovation technological platform In early September, ALPhANOV, the optics and lasers technology center, set up an annexat the PTIB biomedical innovation technological platform*, dedicated to research and technology transfer in the field of laser- living tissue interaction. This annex, called ALPhAMED, aims to provide experimentation resources to industrialists in biophotonics to enable them to develop and validate new systems for medical applications or tissue engineering. * PTIB, located at the Xavier Arnozan/CHU Bordeaux Hospital, provides technology transfer between a clinical and experimental skills sector and the industrial sector to develop or validate diagnostic or therapeutic tools in four priority areas: biomaterials and tissue engineering, new bronchial-pulmonary and cardiovascular imaging procedures, new procedures for treatment of arrhythmias and cardiac stimulation, exploration of thrombosis and thrombocytic disorders. Contact: benoit.appert-collin@alphanov.com - www.alphanov.com text/html 2010-10-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/10/creation-of-a-franco-chinese-technological-platform-100.html On July 17, 2010, ALPhA Route des Lasers signed a memorandum of understanding with the Wuhan national optoelectronics laboratory toestablish a joint technological platform. This agreement is one of the results of actions conducted over two years in Wuhan by ALPhA Route des Lasers and the Aquitaine region. These actions include the opening of aliaison office for the optical and laser industry, recruiting a VIE assistant (international export volunteer program) to help companies in their relationswith Chinese counterparts, a partnership agreement signed in May 2009 between ALPhA Route des Lasers and Wuhan Optics Valley. This platform will focus on laser applications, including micro-milling lasers, since the Wuhan and Aquitaine regions have complementary skills. It will demonstrate the potential of laser technologies developed in Aquitaine and will initiate collaborative projects between French and Chinese entities; it will also serve as a center of academic and vocational training. text/html 2010-10-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/10/1st-international-summer-school-for-students-of-laser-physics-101.html Aquitaine's first "Entrepreneurship in Photonics" summer school from June 18-22,2010 attracted 19 participants from Europe and the US. In a program covering both technological and managerial subjects, mentored by Bordeaux Unitec, students in four groupsimplemented a strategy to create an innovative business based on their own research project. The diversity of origins and profiles, ranging from students beginning their Masters in photonics (in the context of MILMI;Master International in Laser, Materials Science and Interaction), up to the PhD level for doctoral students at the completion stage of their researchprojects, leading to the development of a dynamic group and highly original technological and scientific emulation. In terms of efficiency, it appears likely that 2 (50%) of the projects developed in this session will lead to the creation of real companies in the regionin the short or medium term. Given the positive feedback, this technical and academic operationcould become part of theannual program at PYLA,the Route des Lasers competitiveness cluster training center, in partnership with Bordeaux Unitec. Contact: laurent.sarger@u-bordeaux1.fr - marie.catoire@bordeauxunitec.com text/html 2010-10-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/10/wonton11-102.html The Wonton Conference, following its success in North America and Japan, will take place for the first time in Europe, at Bordeaux and will focus on nanotubes and graphene applied to optics. For further information: Brahim Lounis & Laurent Cognet (Institut d'Optique Bordeaux/CNRS/Université de Bordeaux) - wonton11@u-bordeaux1.fr text/html 2010-10-06T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/10/bordeaux-place-de-la-bourse-103.html In a setting that evokes the cultural and historical environment of the 18th century, "Bordeaux Place de la Bourse" offers 2 440 m² of facilitiesin the heart of Bordeauxto organize all types of events: conferences, conventions, product launches, meetings, and seminars, thanks to equipment complying with today's technological expectations. text/html 2010-05-17T08:30:00+00:00 http://www.routedeslasers.fr/en/news/2010/05/route-des-lasers-seeking-rapprochement-with-eli-77.html In 2009, the decision was made to share installation of the ELI infrastructures among three countries: Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. Consequently, in order to bring together the best skills in Europe, the Czech Republic will issue invitations to tender amounting to €160 million. Following a meeting in Paris, a working meeting at CCIB on April 13 gave certain companies of the Route des Lasers closer a clearer idea of how they could participate in the ELI project. After a visit to ALPhANOV, Florian Gliksohn of the Czech Academy of Sciences's Institute of Physics and Czech Director of ELI, presented this major project and the work of his institute. Two Czech companies also outlined their activities and involvement in ELI: Crytur (manufacturer of crystals for the laser) and Vaakum Praha (vacuum technologies), along with a representative of the Turnov Workshop on Optic Development (Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences). Following a brief presentation of the Route des Lasers cluster, Amplitude Systèmes, Imagine Optics, SEIV Aquitaine, ALPhANOV and CELIA presented their specialties related to the needs of the ELI project. By demonstrating the excellence of Czech and Aquitaine know-how, these presentations led to a series of informal discussions enabling the companies to sketch out future partnerships. The afternoon was devoted to a tour of the Laser Mégajoule. In the context of this international partnership approach, a meeting planned for April 20 with the leaders of European HiPER project was postponed until mid-May following recent air traffic difficulties. The purpose of HiPER is to demonstrate the potential of laser inertial confinement fusion to produce energy. At that time the role which Aquitaine might play in this project will be discussed, making the most of the know-how developed in the context of the PETAL project, involving a petawatt laser being built in Aquitaine. The 2010 Franco-Czech technological days were organized in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Paris, the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Science, the Franco-Czech Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bordeaux and the Route des Lasers Competitiveness Cluster. LANDMARKS ELI, one of three “giant lasers” currently being built, along with HIPER and the LMJ This unique key scientific tool, representing an estimated investment of €400 million, focuses the know-how of 300 scientists from 50 laboratories in 13 European countries. Its purpose is to provide scientists, engineers and medical doctors with a laser capable of the highest intensities, thanks to ultra short impulsions. This installation, intended to serve European needs, represents a first: it will employ the world's most powerful laser and will be able to provide extremely brief impulsions measuring 100,000 times the energy produced by all the power-plants in the world. Fields of study of ELI and its applications ELI seeks to realize a long-standing ambition shared by physicists since the first functional laser was developed in 1960. ELI may be powerful enough to stimulate a vacuum to the point of decomposition into elemental particles and anti-particles thanks to its tremendous intensities. The extremely short duration of these impulsions makes possible real-time observations of movements or extremely brief reactions measured in attoseconds (10 -18 of a second) or even in zeptoseconds (10 -21 of a second). These ultra-intense laser impulsions could also reduce the distances needed by particle accelerators to produce a beam of particles or radiation by a factor of 1000 to 10,000. ELI will open up a new branch of optics called ultra-relativistic optics, leading to ramifications in particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology. Applications related to extreme light sources are particularly numerous in the fields of health, biology, science of materials, X-rays and X-ray therapy.