The University of Waterloo has broken ground on WaterFEL, the Infrared Free Electron Laser (IR-FEL) facility scheduled to open in 2028. The new facility will be the only one of its kind in North America and will revolutionize research with its capabilities to address global challenges, from understanding and treating complex health conditions to creating pathways for a healthier environment.
The Canadian Free Electron Laser project received $10 million from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), $6.4 million from the Ontario Research Fund (ORF), $3.6 million from the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, and $7.5 million from the University of Waterloo. The project consists of the IR-FEL at Waterloo and a complementary broad-based terahertz light source being built at TRIUMF, Canada's national particle accelerator laboratory in Vancouver.
Dr. Scott Hopkins
Professor
Department of Chemistry
The project, led by Dr. Scott Hopkins, was inspired by Nobel laureate and Waterloo professor Donna Strickland whose groundbreaking fundamental research in laser physics helped shape his vision for advancing laser technology. The IR-FEL will enable researchers to analyze the molecular structure of substances, monitor chemical transformations in wastewater and identify biomarkers for diseases such as cancer and metabolic diseases.
