Physics and applied optics

The "Laboratoire d’optique appliquée (LOA)" is a joint research unit of the CNRS, École Polytechnique, and ENSTA that has been a pioneer in laser-matter interaction and plasma physics for over 30 years.

The laboratory's research activities cover a wide range of topics in ultrafast science, including the development of ultra-intense femtosecond (10-15 seconds) laser systems, the physics of laser filamentation in air, and the creation of compact sources of radiation and energetic particles for academic, societal, and industrial applications.

The LOA is continuing to develop the LAPLACE project, a center dedicated to laser-plasma accelerators.

Areas of application
  • Biomedical research
  • Defense
  • Energy
  • Environment

Research topics

LASER-MATTER INTERACTION, PLASMA PHYSICS, ULTRA-FAST SCIENCE

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Institute | Training | Student Life
Ralph Florian Ngonga has his say

Every weeknight, he makes headlines on France 2 as the current champion of the game show “Tout le Monde a son mot à dire” (Everyone Has Their Say), hosted by Bruno Guillon and Sidonie Bonnec. The rest of the time, he is a diligent student in the...

Ralph Florian Ngonga has his say

Every weeknight, he makes headlines on France 2 as the current champion of the game show “Tout le Monde a son mot à dire” (Everyone Has Their Say), hosted by Bruno Guillon and Sidonie Bonnec. The rest of the time, he is a diligent student in the...

Press release | Innovation | Research
LARIAD, laboratory of the future for defense robotics

On Wednesday, February 18, Estelle Iacona, Director General of ENSTA, and Bertrand Rondepierre, Director of AMIAD, signed the agreement to create LARIAD, the Robotics and AI Laboratory for Defense. Aimed at developing the research programs of both...

LARIAD, laboratory of the future for defense robotics

On Wednesday, February 18, Estelle Iacona, Director General of ENSTA, and Bertrand Rondepierre, Director of AMIAD, signed the agreement to create LARIAD, the Robotics and AI Laboratory for Defense. Aimed at developing the research programs of both...

Research
Robotics at the heart of new pollution control devices

A container falls into the sea, spilling its contents and releasing pollutants of unknown nature. To anticipate such a crisis situation and respond as quickly as possible, teams from CEPPOL and CEDRE, with the help of researchers from ENSTA, collaborated...

Robotics at the heart of new pollution control devices

A container falls into the sea, spilling its contents and releasing pollutants of unknown nature. To anticipate such a crisis situation and respond as quickly as possible, teams from CEPPOL and CEDRE, with the help of researchers from ENSTA, collaborated...

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