The world’s most powerful laser was recently tested at the University of Michigan in the United States, generating an astonishing two petawatts (two quadrillion watts) of peak power, which is over 100 times the world’s total electricity output. The only downside is that it lasts just 25 quintillionths (that’s 18 zeros) of a second.

Housed in a gymnasium-sized laboratory, the Zettawatt-Equivalent Ultrashort laser pulse System (ZEUS) enables cutting-edge research in quantum physics, astrophysics, medical imaging and more. Its secret lies in a process called wakefield acceleration, in which laser pulses slam into helium gas, creating plasma and accelerating electrons to high speeds.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, ZEUS is a user facility open to researchers worldwide. The first official experiment, led by Professor Franklin Dollar’s team, aims to rival full-scale particle accelerators at a fraction of the space and cost.

The next milestone will occur in a signature experiment later this year, in which high-speed electrons will collide head-on with incoming laser pulses, simulating a zettawatt-scale event, hence the name ZEUS.

With a price tag of just $16 million, ZEUS isn’t just a scientific powerhouse, it’s a bargain. And it may just redefine the frontier of high-field science.

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