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

Our latest news

Alumni | Innovation
DeepFoil: Two ENSTA Graduates Are Reinventing Underwater Exploration

Graduates in architecture and naval hydrodynamics, Emillia Perdigon and Paul François have designed the DeepFoil, a flying underwater wing that allows for effortless movement underwater. Fueled by public enthusiasm and investor support, their project is...

DeepFoil: Two ENSTA Graduates Are Reinventing Underwater Exploration

Graduates in architecture and naval hydrodynamics, Emillia Perdigon and Paul François have designed the DeepFoil, a flying underwater wing that allows for effortless movement underwater. Fueled by public enthusiasm and investor support, their project is...

Innovation | Research
Gabriel Betton: Exploring the karst networks

Beneath our feet, in the darkness of the underground, a natural network spanning more than a third of France’s territory supplies drinking water to nearly 30 million people. But the quality of this vast freshwater reservoir is threatened by climate change...

Gabriel Betton: Exploring the karst networks

Beneath our feet, in the darkness of the underground, a natural network spanning more than a third of France’s territory supplies drinking water to nearly 30 million people. But the quality of this vast freshwater reservoir is threatened by climate change...

Training | Innovation | Student Life
An ENSTA team wins the Energy4Climate 2026 Challenge

How can we best promote renewable energy production in France? That was the question posed by the 6th edition of the Energy4Climate – Agorize Challenge, to which a team of ENSTA students provided an answer that was both innovative and well-reasoned.

An ENSTA team wins the Energy4Climate 2026 Challenge

How can we best promote renewable energy production in France? That was the question posed by the 6th edition of the Energy4Climate – Agorize Challenge, to which a team of ENSTA students provided an answer that was both innovative and well-reasoned.