Physics and applied optics

The "Laboratoire d’optique appliquée (LOA)" is a joint research unit of the CNRS, École Polytechnique, and ENSTA that has been a pioneer in laser-matter interaction and plasma physics for over 30 years.

The laboratory's research activities cover a wide range of topics in ultrafast science, including the development of ultra-intense femtosecond (10-15 seconds) laser systems, the physics of laser filamentation in air, and the creation of compact sources of radiation and energetic particles for academic, societal, and industrial applications.

The LOA is continuing to develop the LAPLACE project, a center dedicated to laser-plasma accelerators.

Areas of application
  • Biomedical research
  • Defense
  • Energy
  • Environment

Research topics

LASER-MATTER INTERACTION, PLASMA PHYSICS, ULTRA-FAST SCIENCE

Our latest news

Institute | Student Life
Schoolgirls today, engineers tomorrow

On Thursday, March 19, nearly 100 high school girls from three schools in Finistère were welcomed to the ENSTA Brest campus as part of the event “100 Women, 100 Careers: Engineers Tomorrow.” The afternoon’s program included a tour of the campus and...

Schoolgirls today, engineers tomorrow

On Thursday, March 19, nearly 100 high school girls from three schools in Finistère were welcomed to the ENSTA Brest campus as part of the event “100 Women, 100 Careers: Engineers Tomorrow.” The afternoon’s program included a tour of the campus and...

Alumni | Institute | Training
Graduation Ceremony in Brest: ENSTA Celebrates the Class of 2025, “Marie Marvingt”

March is graduation season for ENSTA’s community of young engineers, master’s students, and specialized master’s students across the school’s two campuses. Following the ENSTA Paris graduation ceremony, it was the turn of the 310 graduates from the ENSTA...

Graduation Ceremony in Brest: ENSTA Celebrates the Class of 2025, “Marie Marvingt”

March is graduation season for ENSTA’s community of young engineers, master’s students, and specialized master’s students across the school’s two campuses. Following the ENSTA Paris graduation ceremony, it was the turn of the 310 graduates from the ENSTA...

Research
A national library of dolphin vocalizations

Launched in late 2024, the PAMCéClass project, entrusted to ENSTA by the Offshore Wind Observatory and funded by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), aims to create a national library of vocalizations from several species of dolphins found along the...

A national library of dolphin vocalizations

Launched in late 2024, the PAMCéClass project, entrusted to ENSTA by the Offshore Wind Observatory and funded by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), aims to create a national library of vocalizations from several species of dolphins found along the...

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