Skip to main content
Home
Department Of Physics text logo
  • Research
    • Our research
    • Our research groups
    • Our research in action
    • Research funding support
    • Summer internships for undergraduates
  • Study
    • Undergraduates
    • Postgraduates
  • Engage
    • For alumni
    • For business
    • For schools
    • For the public
Menu
Atomic and Laser Physics
Credit: Jack Hobhouse

Prof Peter Norreys FInstP;

Professorial Research Fellow

Research theme

  • Accelerator physics
  • Lasers and high energy density science
  • Fundamental particles and interactions
  • Plasma physics

Sub department

  • Atomic and Laser Physics

Research groups

  • Oxford Centre for High Energy Density Science (OxCHEDS)
peter.norreys@physics.ox.ac.uk
Telephone: 01865 (2)72220
Clarendon Laboratory, room 141.1
Peter Norreys' research group
  • About
  • Research
  • Teaching
  • Publications

Relativistic harmonics in the efficiency limit

Nature Nature Research (2025)

Authors:

robin Timmis, Colm Fitzpatrick, Jonathan Kennedy, Holly Huddleston, Elliott Denis, Abigail James, Chris Baird, Dan Symes, David McGonegle, Eduard Atonga, Heath Martin, Jeremy Rebenstock, John Neely, Jordan Lee, Nicolas Bourgeois, Oliver Finlay, Rusko Ruskov, Sam Astbury, Steve Hawkes, Matt Zepf, Karl Krushelnick, Edward Gumbrell, Rajeev Pattathil, Mark Yeung, Brendan Dromey, Peter Norreys

Single-shot spatio-temporal vector field measurements of petawatt laser pulses

Nature Photonics Springer Nature (2025)

Authors:

Sunny Howard, Jannik Esslinger, Nils Weiße, Jakob Schroeder, Christoph Eberle, Robin Wang, Stefan Karsch, Peter Norreys, Andreas Döpp

Abstract:

The control of light’s various degrees of freedom underpins modern physics and technology, from quantum optics to telecommunications. Ultraintense lasers represent the pinnacle of this control, concentrating light to extreme intensities at which electrons oscillate at relativistic velocities within a single optical cycle. These extraordinary conditions offer unique opportunities to probe the fundamental aspects of light–matter interactions and develop transformative applications. However, the precise characterization of intense, ultrashort lasers has lagged behind our ability to generate them, creating a bottleneck in advancing laser science and its applications. Here we present the first single-shot vector field measurement technique for intense, ultrashort laser pulses that provides an unprecedented insight into their complete spatiotemporal and polarization structure, including quantified uncertainties. Our method efficiently encodes the full vector field onto a two-dimensional detector by leveraging the inherent properties of these laser pulses, allowing for real-time characterization. We demonstrate its capabilities on systems ranging from high-repetition-rate oscillators to petawatt-class lasers, revealing subtle spatiotemporal couplings and polarization effects. This advancement bridges the gap between theory and experiment in laser physics, providing crucial data for simulations and accelerating the development of novel applications in high-field physics, laser–matter interactions, future energy solutions and beyond.
More details from the publisher
Details from ORA
More details

Computational modelling of the semi-classical quantum vacuum in 3D

Communications Physics Springer Nature 8:1 (2025) 224

Authors:

Zixin Zhang, Ramy Aboushelbaya, Iustin Ouatu, Elliott Denis, Abigail James, Robin Timmis, Marko von der Leyen, Rui Torres, Thomas Grismayer, Luis O Silva

Abstract:

The global commissioning of multi-Petawatt laser systems provides unprecedented access to ultra-high electromagnetic fields for probing the quantum vacuum. However, current analytical models are limited, necessitating large-scale simulations for experimental validation. Here, we present real-time three-dimensional simulations of two quantum vacuum effects, using a semi-classical numerical solver based on the Heisenberg-Euler Lagrangian. The simulation model is benchmarked against vacuum birefringence analytical results with a counter-propagating setup. Simulations results of both plane-wave and Gaussian pulses are consistent with theoretical predictions. The solver is then applied to four-wave mixing using three Gaussian pulses with real-time information on the harmonic evolution. We provide quantitative explanations for the astigmatism in the output and produce precise estimates of the interaction time and size. Results are compared with the plane-wave model and previous numerical results. This solver paves the way for in-depth investigations of a broad spectrum of quantum vacuum effects in any arbitrary laser setup.
More details from the publisher
Details from ORA
More details

Search for black hole super-radiance using gravito-optic hetrodyne detection

(2025)

Authors:

Eduard Atonga, Ramy Aboushelbaya, Peter Norreys

The gravito-optic effect

(2025)

Authors:

Eduard Atonga, Ramy Aboushelbaya, Peter A Norreys

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Page 7
  • Page 8
  • Page 9
  • …
  • Next page Next
  • Last page Last

Footer Menu

  • Contact us
  • Giving to the Dept of Physics
  • Work with us
  • Media

User account menu

  • Log in

Follow us

FIND US

Clarendon Laboratory,

Parks Road,

Oxford,

OX1 3PU

CONTACT US

Tel: +44(0)1865272200

University of Oxfrod logo Department Of Physics text logo
IOP Juno Champion logo Athena Swan Silver Award logo

© University of Oxford - Department of Physics

Cookies | Privacy policy | Accessibility statement

Built by: Versantus

  • Home
  • Research
  • Study
  • Engage
  • Our people
  • News & Comment
  • Events
  • Our facilities & services
  • About us
  • Current students
  • Staff intranet