Events

High-Power Laser Ablation IX (HPLA IX) is an international scientific conference focused on advances in high-power laser ablation and laser-matter interaction research. It is part of a long-running series of symposia that bring together researchers, engineers, and industry professionals working on fundamental science, applications, and technologies related to the interaction of intense laser pulses with matter.

Overview

• Name: High-Power Laser Ablation IX

• Dates: 16–18 March 2026

• Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

This ninth installment in the series continues the tradition of highlighting state-of-the-art research, experimental findings, modeling, and emerging applications of laser ablation and high-power laser technologies. The conference is usually organized under the umbrella of SPIE, an international society for optics and photonics.

Purpose and Scope

HPLA IX serves as a forum where scientists and engineers from academia, research institutions, and industry share recent results and discuss future directions in topics such as:

• Laser ablation and pulsed laser deposition for material processing and thin-film growth

• Fundamental laser-matter interactions, including theory and simulations

• High-power and ultrashort laser technologies and challenges in scaling peak and average powers

• Directed energy applications, including defense and propulsion concepts

• Emerging laser-enabled applications such as micro-/nano-fabrication, additive manufacturing, and biomedical tools

• Laser materials processing, including shock applications, surface modification, and plasma dynamics

• Poster sessions and discussions that span a broad range of related topics

The program features keynote talks, invited and contributed papers, poster presentations, and panel discussions on cutting-edge research, from fundamental physics to industrial and societal applications.

Example Topics Covered at HPLA IX

Some of the specific areas addressed at the 2026 meeting include:

• Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and MAPLE (Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation) for materials synthesis

• Ultrafast laser processes for precise micromachining and surface engineering

• Laser-driven particle acceleration and plasma physics

• High-power laser technologies and beam delivery systems

• Applications in additive manufacturing, photovoltaics, and sensors

• Laser-assisted biomedical diagnostics and device fabrication

• Space propulsion concepts based on beamed energy or laser ablation mechanisms

Community and Impact

HPLA conferences are significant in the fields of optics, photonics, materials science, and laser engineering because they:

• Promote cross-disciplinary exchange between physics, engineering, and applied sciences

• Highlight new experimental techniques, simulation methods, and applications of high-power lasers

• Provide a venue for networking, collaborations, and knowledge transfer across academia and industry

Overall, High-Power Laser Ablation IX is designed for researchers and professionals interested in the science and technology of laser-matter interactions, especially where high laser powers and precision processing are involved.