Laser Science and Technology Centre

Last updated

Laser Science & Technology Centre
Established1998 as LASTEC
1982 as DSC
1950 part of DS
Director Shri Hari Babu Srivastava
Address Melcalfe House
Delhi-110054 [1]
Location Delhi
Operating agency
 DRDO
Website LASTEC Home Page

Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC) is a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). Located in Delhi, it is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of lasers and related technologies. LASTEC functions under the DRDO Directorate of Electronics & Computer Science.

Contents

History

LASTEC is the oldest laboratory in DRDO. [2] It was established in 1950 as Defence Science Laboratory (DSL) which was a nucleus laboratory with the objective to conduct research in frontier areas of physics, chemistry and mathematics with a special focus on lasers and opto-electronics. On 9 April 1960, DSL was shifted to Metcalfe House and inaugurated by then Defence Minister V. K. Krishna Menon, in the presence of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Its first Director was S. P. Chakravarti, the father of Electronics and Telecommunication engineering in India, who later founded LRDE, DRDL and DLRL. [3]

With time, many DSC activities were given to newly formed, specialized DRDO laboratories. DSL served as a precursor for as many as 15 present DRDO labs, including DRDL, SSPL, INMAS, FRL, ISSA, DESIDOC, DIFR, SAG, ITM etc. [4]

In 1982, the laboratory moved to a new technical building in Metcalfe House complex and was renamed as Defence Science Centre. The centre consolidated its R&D activities towards more specific and application oriented areas, such as liquid fuel technology, spectroscopy, crystallography, system engineering, biotechnology etc. DSL now started concentrating in the area of pure sciences such as physics, chemistry and mathematics. The chemistry division developed G-fuel and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) for rockets and missiles. The Mathematics division conducted simulation and calculations related to the missile program, while the Physics division took the lead by launching many activities.

DSC was also given a new charter of duties with its major thrust on lasers. Intensive work commenced on solid-state lasers, carbon dioxide lasers, ALARM, laser rangefinder, fibre optic gyroscope, ring laser gyroscopes, laser intruder alarm systems, etc. In 1986, the centre was made responsible for the development of high power lasers for Defence applications as one of its major missions. The lab was renamed LASTEC on 1 Aug 1999 to emphasize its core focus of laser technology. As of 2020, LASTEC is no longer functional or act as an independent laboratory. All the staff members have been transferred to DRDO labs in Hyderabad. [5]

Application

In the field of high-power lasers, LASTEC works in the following fields:

Areas of work

LASTEC's primary focus is the research and development of various laser materials, components and laser systems, including High Power Lasers (HPL) for defence-applications. [6] The main charter of the lab revolves around progressing in areas of photonics, electro-optic counter measures (EOCM), low and high-power lasers (HPL). LASTEC also develops and delivers directed-energy weapon systems for the Indian Armed Forces, based on high-power laser technology. As a defence technology spin off, LASTEC has also been engaged in the development of lasers for medical and other civilian applications.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defence Research and Development Organisation</span> Government agency in India

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is an agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence of the Government of India, charged with the military's research and development, headquartered in Delhi, India. It was formed in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the Indian Ordnance Factories with the Defence Science Organisation under the administration of Jawaharlal Nehru. Subsequently, Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS) was constituted in 1979 as a service of Group 'A' Officers / Scientists directly under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology</span> National laboratory site in Nilore, Islamabad

The Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH) is a federally funded research and development laboratory in Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) is a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). Located in Hyderabad, it is actively involved in the design and development of integrated electronic warfare systems for the Indian Armed Forces.

Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located at Avadi, in Chennai, India. It is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of armoured fighting vehicles, Tanks, Automotive electronics and many other.

The Defence Scientific Information & Documentation Centre (DESIDOC) is a division of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Delhi, its main function is the collection, processing and dissemination of relevant technical information for DRDO scientists. The present director of DESIDOC is K Nageswara Rao.

Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group (ANURAG) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, it is involved in the development of computing solutions for numerical analysis and their use in other DRDO projects.

The Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) is an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Timarpur, Delhi, its main function is the development of technologies and products in the area of explosive, fire and environmental safety. CFEES is organised under the Armaments Directorate of DRDO. The present director of CFEES is Arvind Kumar

The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) is an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), located in Visakhapatnam. Its main function is the research and development of underwater weapons and associated systems. NSTL is organized under DRDO's Directorate of Naval R&D. The present director of NSTL is Dr. Abraham Varughese and Director General(DG) is Dr Y. Sreenivas Rao, Distinguished Scientist.

Center for Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL) is a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). Located in Dehradun, its primary function is research and development in the radio communication devices for defence applications. Its mission is development of Radio Communication Systems, Data links, Satellite Communication Systems, Millimeter Wave Communication systems

Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE) is an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Gwalior, it is primarily involved in the research and development of detection and protection against toxic chemical and biological agents. DRDE is organised under the Life Sciences Directorate of DRDO. The present director of DRDE is Dr. Manmohan Parida.

The DRDO Anti-Tank Missile is a first generation wire-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed in India by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It has a subsonic speed up to 300 ft/s (91 m/s) with a range of 1.6 km (0.99 mi) and carries a 106 mm high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Institute of Technology, Meghalaya</span> Public engineering institution in Meghalaya, India

National Institute of Technology Meghalaya is one of the National Institutes of Technology. It is located in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. The institute began to offer courses in 2010 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat.

India has studied, produced and used various strategic and tactical missile systems since its independence. Decades long projects have realised development of all types of missile systems including ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, air-defence, air-to-air and anti-missile systems. India is one of seven countries in the world with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and one of four countries with anti-ballistic missile systems. Since 2016, India has been a member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basanti Dulal Nagchaudhuri</span> Indian physicist and academic

Basanti Dulal Nag Chaudhuri was an Indian Nuclear scientist and academic, and Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. He is known as one of the pioneers of nuclear physics in India. While serving as the Director General (chairman) to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), he played influential role in Pokhran-I , India's first successful Nuclear bomb test on 18 May 1974. This historic achievement made India the sixth nation in the world to become a nuclear superpower, after the United States of America, Soviet Union, England, France, and China. He also initiated the first feasibility studies on India's ballistic missile program.

Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) is an Indian missile development laboratory, part of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Their charter is centered on the design, development, and flight evaluation of various types of missile systems for the Indian armed forces. The organization's vision statement reads:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prahlada (scientist)</span> Indian defence research scientist and engineer

Prahlada Rama Rao is an Indian missile scientist and former director of Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the largest of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) laboratories in India, known for his contributions to the Indian space programme. He was honoured by the Government of India in 2015 with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest Indian civilian award. He was vice chancellor of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology from 2011 to 2014.

N. Prabhakar was an Indian scientist and the Chief Controller, System Analysis and Modelling Centre (SAM-C) of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). He graduated in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (BE) from Annamalai University and enrolled at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru from where he obtained his master's degree (ME). He pursued his research at Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy, secured a doctoral degree in Air Defence Systems and joined the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IIT Bhilai</span> Public engineering institution in India

Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai is a public research university and technical institute in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India. Established in 2016, it is one of the Indian Institute of Technology in India.

Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS) is a Central Group 'A' Civil Service of the Government of India. DRDS scientists are Gazetted defence-civilian officers under the Ministry of Defence. They are responsible for developing new technologies and military hardware for the Indian defence and security forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. P. Chakravarti</span> Indian engineer and educator

Prof. Siddheshwari Prasad Chakravarti was an Indian engineer, researcher, and educator. He was known as the father of electronics and telecommunications engineering in India.

References

  1. ↑ Addresses [usurped]
  2. ↑ History of LASTEC [usurped]
  3. ↑ "Prof. S.P. Chakravarti (1904–1981) | Mitra, S.N. | download".
  4. ↑ Joseph, P. Chacko (6 August 2007). "LASTEC the Laser Lab". Frontier India Defence and Strategic News Service. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  5. ↑ Mohan, Vijay (30 November 2020). "DRDO shuts down 3 labs, sends staff to other centres". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  6. ↑ LASTEC Areas of Work [usurped]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.