Plasma is an extreme form of matter at the heart of important applications like fusion and particle acceleration. The creation and control of plasma require high-power lasers, now increasingly within reach, often operating at terawatt or petawatt levels. One of the six grand challenges in Plasma Science and Engineering is mastering the art of molding plasmas with lasers, yet a gap exists: the need for advanced beam control at high power levels. metaPOWER aims to fill this gap by developing high-damage-threshold metasurfaces—the state-of-the-art nanotechnology in structured light—for high-power lasers. These metasurfaces will be integrated in innovative laser beam shapers, offering spatiotemporal and vectorial (polarization) control over laser beams, thus making a leap over the state of the art, which is currently limited by the lack of advanced high-power optics. The project will demonstrate the ability to seed and control laser-plasma instabilities via reconfigurable vector beams, and to create topology-controlled wakefield acceleration and tunable X-ray and THz-to-xUV sources based on space-time beams with orbiting pulses. This marks a paradigm shift in laser-matter interactions, enabling new possibilities in fusion energy, particle acceleration, and radiation sources. Feasibility is backed by solid preliminary results, including successful structured laser-plasma simulations, a demonstrated scheme for the synthesis of space-time beams, and initial metasurface fabrication resilient to high-power lasers. The implications of metaPOWER's success extend far beyond the groundbreaking objectives of this proposal. These transformative technologies may catalyze advancements in quantum plasmas, laser material processing, high harmonic generation, and the development of a new class of polarization plasma optics, opening up new horizons in high-power structured laser-matter interactions.

This project proposes the functionalisation of dense arrays of spintronic nanodevices called magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) for neuromorphic computing application. Neuromorphic computing is a field that proposes a novel computing architecture aimed at reducing energy consumption and enhancing computational capabilities compared to conventional computers. It mimics the Human brain where memory and information processing are physically intertwined. One key component is the synapse, which plays a crucial role in enabling the communication between neurons and serving as a dynamic, plastic memory where the strength of connections between neurons is stored. This characteristic allows for tuning these connections in a non-volatile and reversible manner, forming the foundation for intricate learning and memory processes. For this purpose, the field of spintronics will be employed, focusing on controlling electron spin. Spintronics has gained significant importance in data storage applications, and spintronics nanodevices such as MTJs have recently emerged as promising candidates for neuromorphic computing due to their robustness, multifunctionalities and compatibility with compatibility to metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. They hold strong appeal for the development of artificial synapses and neurons that mimic their biological counterparts due to their low power consumption and fast switching compared to traditional transistors. In addition, the nanoscale size of spintronic devices allows for the creation of large neural networks. The integration of memory and processing in these devices has the potential to revolutionize computational systems and strongly reduce energy consumption while increasing computational speed.

The project consortium consisting of BOGEN (project coordinator, SME), INESC-MN (research), and INSPECTRON (SME) will bring the novel identification solution for track & trace, anti-counterfeiting and product verification to market. INSPECTRON has recently developed a magnetic ink barcode reader and has implemented this in a mailer project. BOGEN has developed with INESC-MN a new technology to read magnetic ink with TMR sensing technology. Combining these approaches results in a disruption for the identification and authentication/anti-counterfeiting markets with Mag-ID, the magnetic readable barcode based on ink. The objective of this action is to introduce Mag-ID as a cost-efficient alternative for high volume tracking & tracing, brand protection and inspection and to replace passive RFID as a cheap solution for high volume applications. Since magnetic barcodes are dirt resistant, the technology will replace some barcodes with a more reliable read. The technology allows for distance reading, which means that the information can be read through coatings, e.g. parts before and after a paint booth can be identified automatically with the same technology. This can be used for tracking and tracing of components in a subassembly e.g. in identification documents to ensure that personal data and pictures are matched in the process and after assembly. Together with a verification as a service platform, SMEs can provide authentication and validation services world-wide. Magnetic barcodes can replace many RFID solutions as they are environment-friendly without separate electronic device disposal. Within Mag-ID, the SME partners will demonstrate the results manifold: BOGEN Mag-ID one-shot reader in a volume application, INSPECTRON with evaluation modules for the Mag-ID brand protection, tracking and inspection solutions. INSPECTRON will move into a service-based business model, while BOGEN will create a separate business for a project-based model.