Other Names: CAT
Address: Rajendra Nagar P.O.: CAT
Indore 452 013 Madhya Pradesh, India
Website: http://www.cat.ernet.in/
Phone: + 91 73164626
Email: Unknown
Subordinate to: Government of India's Department of Atomic Energy
Primary Function: To expand the work of the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai, especially in the areas of lasers and accelerators.

History:
On 19 February 1984, the foundation was laid for the center with construction beginning in May 1984. In January 1986, the first multi-purpose shed was ready and the first scientific activity took place with the presentation of a "Workshop on Plasma Diagnostics."

Activities:
The center is divided into numerous divisions. Below is a list of these divisions and their basic functions:

• Laser Physics Division: Is involved in the research and development related to lasers. Experimental and theoretical work is carried out here as well. This division includes the Nonlinear Optics Section, the Ultrafast Studies Section, the Semiconductor Laser Section, and the Thin Film Lab.
• Laser Systems Engineering Division: Carries out research and development on lasers, especially metal vapor and dye lasers. This division includes the Workshop "B" and the Optical Workshop.
• Laser Materials Division: Deals with the production of equipment for lasers used at the center. This division includes the Crystal Growth Laboratory, the Ceramics Laboratory, and the Target Laboratory.
• Solid State Laser Division: Performs research in the field of solid-state lasers. There are two laboratories within this division, the Diode Pumped Solid State Laser Lab and the Fiber Optics Laboratory.
• Laser Plasma Division: Conducts laser-plasma interaction studies using high power lasers. Also works on developing high powered lasers for producing plasma and various diagnostic systems to study the properties of laser produced plasmas. The work is split among the three laboratories located within the division. These laboratories are the Laser Plasma Laboratory, the High Power Laser Electronics Lab, and the High Power Laser Optics Laboratory.
• Chemical and Excimer Laser Section: Participates in research and development related to excimer and chemical lasers and includes the Chemical Laser Lab.
• Industrial CO2 Laser Section: Is working on the development of indigenous CO2 laser systems in an effort to promote the use of laser technology.
• Biomedical Applications Section: Is working on a laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of human tissues to be used in cancer diagnosis. The section is currently carrying out experiments on optical imaging through turbid media. It is also performing studies on methods for measurement of tissue optical properties and narrow bandwidth light effects on cellular cultures and animal models. Furthermore it is developing a laser optical trap and microbeam.

The center contains a number of different laboratories, including the Proton Linac Assembly and Vacuum Technology Laboratory, a Coolant Systems Laboratory, a Beam Diagnostics Laboratory, a Control Laboratory that deals with the accelerators being designed at the center, a Ferrite Laboratory, the Superconducting Technology Laboratory, a Magnet Measurement Lab, a Fabrication Facility, a Glass Blowing Facility, a Chemical Treatment Facility, a Beam Physics and FEL Laboratory, a DC Accelerator Laboratory, a Cryogenics Laboratory, and a Low Temperature Physics Lab.

The center collaborates with a number of major hospitals and R&D institutes throughout India, as long as they have laser-based research and development programs. It also collaborates with other laboratories in Japan, Russia, and Germany.

Key Sources: Center for Advanced Technology, Photo Album, <http://www.cat.ernet.in/cat/pictcat.html>; Center for Advanced Technology, <http://www.ee.ualberta.ca/~naik/cat.html>; Facilities di Luce di sincrotrone, <http://www.fis.uniroma3.it/sils/links.htm>.

	Updated October 2003