The Ultraviolet Laser Facility (ULF-FORTH) is a multi-disciplinary scientific laboratory dedicated to laser-based science, supporting high quality basic and technological research. It combines state-of-the-art experimental facilities -a broad variety of laser sources and experimental workstations, including materials processing and diagnostic facilities- with a rich spectrum of research activities and scientific expertise that provide an intellectual environment, ideal for fostering new ideas and advancing scientific research.

ULF-FORTH is primarily supported by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Hellenic Ministry of Development. Thanks to support from the European Commission, ULF-FORTH has been operating as a European Research Infrastructure since 1990 and has continuously until today been offering access opportunities to researchers from around Europe, who visit Heraklion to carry out innovative experimental work.

Active areas of research at ULF-FORTH include:

• Atomic and Optical Physics
• Molecular Physics and Chemical Dynamics
• Interaction of lasers with materials: fundamentals and applications
• Laser applications in Biomedicine
• Laser techniques in Cultural Heritage

Access opportunities

To date, ULF-FORTH has provided over 2500 days of access, having hosted more than 300 scientists from 20 countries that have carried out over 200 research projects.

European researchers, who wish to pursue innovative experimental projects at ULF-FORTH are encouraged to contact the technical manager of the faciltiy, Dr. Demetrios Anglos in order to obtain further details on transnational access opportunities and/or proceed with submitting a research proposal, following a straightforward procedure through the LASERLAB-EUROPE web site.

ULF-FORTH is currently a partner of LASERLAB-EUROPE, a Europe-wide Consortium of 17 major Laser Infrastructures from 9 European countries forming an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative. LASERLAB-EUROPE is funded by the European Commission through the Research Infrastructure activity of FP6 (Contract No’s RII3-CT-2003-506350), which enables Networking, Transnational Access and Joint Research activities.