(TRUMPF: Ditzingen/Biblis, Germany) -- A joint project led by Focused Energy is developing the world’s first laser-driven neutron source for industrial use. The so-called LDRS process (laser-driven radiation sources) can not only nondestructively see through thick steel or concrete walls, but also into them.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen; the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Photonis Germany; TRUMPF; and TU Darmstadt are involved in the joint research project, with RWE providing premises at the Biblis site. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the project with 20 million euros.

The aim of the joint project, called PLANET, is to develop a laser neutron source from the individual components developed by the project partners to demonstrate that it can be used for the nondestructive examination of nuclear-waste containers.

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