Alumni Association
Professor Ken Ledingham (University of Strathclyde)
09 November 2011
Core-to-Core Programme
Project title: Ultrafast Intense Laser Science
Japanese Lead Scientist: Professor Kaoru Yamanouchi, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Tokyo
UK Counterpart: Professor Ken Ledingham, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde
Project Duration: 2004 to 2009
2004 to 2009 Professor Ledingham was part of a strategic research network led by Professor Kaoru Yamanouchi of the University of Tokyo and funded by the JSPS Core to Core Programme. The title of the project was "Ultrafast Intense Laser Science."
"Prof Yamanouchi set up this important international network in 2004 to arrange annual symposia in "Ultra Fast Laser Science." I was asked to be a member of the organising committee in 2004 when I was visiting professor in Osaka. He wanted these to be sited alternatively in Europe/America and the Pacific Countries. This he succeeded with symposia in Palermo, Hawaii, Lijiang, Pisa, Kyoto, Greece Maui and this year in Germany. My particular task was to advise the committee on how intense lasers could be used in nuclear and particle physics. These symposia were particularly organised for the development of young scientists both in Japan and around the world. Some of these students were rewarded by having their fees and travel paid by the network. The committee were also partially supported to attend these symposia.
When the Core to Core support ceased in 2009 the network has continued to flourish and a number of events up to 2013 have been arranged. I realise that the core to core funding was very expensive but through Prof Yamanouchi's efforts the field has and will continue to flourish and it seems to me that the money has been well spent and it is now generally accepted that Japan is one of the leading countries in "Ultra Fast Laser Science."
