LP3 (Marseille, France)
Laboratoire Lasers, Plasmas et Procédés Photoniques, CNRS
LP3 is a multidisciplinary academic laboratory of excellence. Its major activities focus on: i) generation of hard X-ray sources by laser-induced plasma technology and applications to time-resolved material science and imaging ii) fundamentals and technology of laser-matter interaction and iii) development of laser-based processes. Applications are related to laser structuration and fabrication with major outcomes in photonics, microelectronics, medicine and laser-based diagnostics.
Research highlights
Imaging and Diagnostics Techniques
We are able to perform elementary analysis of materials by spectroscopy with extremely high precision and resolution (user access provided) [Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy 200, 106595 (2023)].
Materials Science and Emergent Technology
Microscale Laser fabrication: LP3 masters Laser-Induced Forward Transfer additive stamping technology able to print a pixel of matter on a solid substrate with high resolution and flexibility allowing us to develop cutting-edge applications for microelectronics, photonics and in-vitro medical processes (user access and training provided) [Opt. Express 31(11), 17619 – 17627 (2023)].
Nanoscale laser fabrication: We master a continuum of techniques ranging from pulsed laser ablation in liquids, electrospinning, and chemical synthesis to manage the fabrication of functionalized nanoparticles and nanoobjects to be included in innovative therapeutic protocols with applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biosensing and theranostic treatments (user access provided) [Nanoscale Advances 6, 2104-2112, 2024] [ACS Applied Nano Materials (7)16, 18737 – 18754, 2024].
Plasma Physics and Secondary Sources
Using the ASUR platform, we study and operate pulsed hard X-ray sources induced by high peak-power high-average power laser sources with the capability to propose imagery and time-resolved X-ray diffraction diagnostics for material and life science [Sci. Rep. 10, 6766 (2020)] [Opt. Lett. 43, 3574 (2018)].
Emergent Technologies
We developed dedicated workstations to understand and develop laser structuration inside semi-conductor and dielectrics with NIR and IR short-pulse laser for exploring 3D writing applications in micro-electromechanics, silicon photonics and metamaterials fabrication (user access provided) [Laser & Photonics Reviews 2301365, 2024] [Light: Advanced Manufacturing 5(3), 281-295, 2024].
Laser Technology and Optics
We developed laser damage metrology addressing the technically-complex ultrashort regime with the perspective to benchmark new innovative robust materials and optical components for high peak-power laser installations [Adv. Opt. Technol. 9, 131 (2020)].
Expertise
LP3 Laboratory is a Joint Research Unit of Aix-Marseille University (AMU) and CNRS. LP3 conducts original research on the physics of pulsed laser-matter interactions and the development of new laser-based processes. To develop its research, the laboratory relies on a staff of about thirty people (18 permanent staff) with diversified skills and expertise (optics and lasers, physics and material sciences, physical-chemist/biologist), and operates a rich and unique set of laser sources and advanced in-situ and ex-situ diagnostics.
Even if rather modest in size, the LP3 laboratory is a major national and international player in many fields of pulsed laser-matter interaction, including ablation and plasma diagnostics, LIBS spectroscopy, laser plasma X-ray source generation and in the development of innovative processes and laser-based procedures for the functionalization and transformation of matter. Recent achievements encompass 3D laser writing in silicon, 3D (sub)-micrometric additive printing, laser-synthesis of nanoparticles and development of theranostics processes, and (sub)micro-structuration of dielectrics materials. Moreover, the laboratory operates two high-tech laser platforms (ASUR: Applications of Ultra-Fast Sources and LaMP: Lasers for Micro-Processes) attracting local, national and international socio-economic actors from various horizons.
Expertise in nanoscience and nanotechnology
We master the fabrication and characterization of functionalized nanoparticles and nanoobjects to incorporate them in innovative therapeutic protocols with applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biosensing and theranostic treatments. A second field of expertise deals with laser writing at small spatial scale (100’s nm – 10’s µm) in materials (semi-conductors, dielectrics) with perspective of 3D fabrication of integrated electronic and nanophotonic devices.
Equipment offered to external users
LP3 operates a large set of pulsed laser sources, from ns to fs, and from UV to mid-IR, all of them offering access. It is also equipped for in-situ (high speed imaging, pump-probe, spectroscopy) and ex-situ (SEM, AFM, confocal and optical microscopes, ellipsometer) characterization of laser matter interaction, plasmas and samples. These facilities allow LP3 researchers to perform complete studies from laser source shaping to matter processing, sensing or imaging technologies, and laser-fabrication innovative demonstrators. Among the numerous laser sources of LP3, it is worth noting that one is unique in the world: a 100 Hz – 10 TW – 25fs Ti:Sa laser (ASUR platform) devoted to time-resolved X-ray diffraction and imagery.
