The THRILL workshop on adaptive optics integration brought together leading scientists to address critical challenges in high-power laser control.

The year 2025 began on a high note with the successful completion of the THRILL workshop, held on January 16, 2025, at the Department of Physics, University of Oxford. Organized as part of the three-day LPA Workshop on Intelligent Systems, the event attracted 119 participants on-site, 63 of whom engaged directly in the THRILL sessions.

The workshop featured insightful presentations and discussions on the latest innovations in high-power laser beam control, adaptive optics (AO) technology, and software integration. A major highlight was the invited plenary talk by Vincent Deo from the Subaru Telescope on Maunakea, Hawaii. Deo shared valuable expertise in real-time AO systems, fostering knowledge exchange between the astronomy and laser communities.

Through presentations and active discussions, the participants identified key bottlenecks hindering progress in AO for high-power laser systems. A survey conducted during the workshop painted a clear picture of the status quo in the field:

• Most facilities currently rely on commercial AO solutions optimized primarily for focal spot enhancement, typically performed only once per day.
• Dissatisfaction was expressed with existing software systems, particularly the lack of low-level interfacing necessary for seamless system integration and automation.
• There is a growing demand for faster, real-time AO capabilities to meet evolving requirements.

These findings align closely with the objectives of THRILL Task 5.3, which focuses on integrating AO into high-power laser systems. The workshop provided a clear roadmap for future developments, emphasizing the need for open-source AO integration frameworks and advocating for improvements by AO suppliers to address the community’s challenges.

The workshop’s completion marks a significant milestone, raising awareness of shortcomings in current AO solutions and setting the stage for the developments of the next generation of laser beam control technology.

Photo: The laser and LPA community gathered at Merton College, Oxford, for the workshop dinner, fostering lively discussions and productive exchanges in a historic setting.

Text: Jonas B. Ohland