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The laser-synchrotron facility (LSF) of the National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute" (NRC KI) is a unique research complex that combines unprecedented possibilities of a cutting-edge rapidly developing field of modern science—physics of ultrashort laser pulses and superstrong electromagnetic fields, which provides unique diagnostic possibilities of the specialized synchrotron radiation (SR) source. The studies devoted to generation of superstrong light fields and interaction of these fields with a material, which had been performed at the LSF of the NRC KI in the last few years, are reviewed. An arsenal of diagnostic methods and the principles of locking of the SR source and the subpetawatt laser complex were developed, which makes it possible to solve the problems related to the dynamics of material structural transformation with extremely small temporal (picosecond) and spatial (atomic) resolution, to obtain knowledge on ultrafast temporal dynamics of chemical processes and control of chemical reactions, to study the interaction of X rays and high-energy particles with biological objects, to simulate experiments on the X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL), and to develop ideological platforms for participation of Russian scientists in the XFEL projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the Kurchatov Laser-Synchrotron Complex is conducting research on the interaction of powerful femtosecond laser radiation with matter. The purpose of these studies is to develop new techniques and approaches for the characterization of high-temperature plasma, X-rays and particle acceleration, which can be the basis for the work planned within the framework of the synchrotron-neutron project. Laser-driven X-ray production, electron acceleration, nuclear fusion, ultrafast structural dynamics of nanoparticles in intense laser fields remains an active research topic, aimed at generating advanced controllable sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]