DAE is a firm believer in the catalytic role science and technology has to play in making our nation self-reliant, and always encouraged R&D in frontline technologies. DAE has pioneered activities in the country not only in nuclear science and technology but also in the technology-intensive areas of particle accelerators, lasers, cryogenics and superconductivity, plasma physics and other related areas, and now has comprehensive R&D programmes in these areas in its various R& D units namely Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Mumbai, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) Indore, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) Kalpakkam, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) Calcutta.

Particle accelerators are considered to be one of the most complex scientific machines built by mankind. Although, initially particle accelerators were constructed for studies in nuclear and particle physics, today they find applications in wide-ranging areas. For example, Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS) emitting intense narrow beam of electromagnetic radiation ranging from far infrared to x-rays is an important tool for researchers in physics, chemistry, biology and even industry. Low energy accelerators have applications in industry and medicine e.g. treatment of cancer, preservation of food and agricultural products. Considering the importance of accelerators, DAE initiated major programmes to construct accelerators in India. The major accelerator facilities presently operating include the Variable Energy Cyclotron at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Calcutta, 14 MeV Pelletron of BARC and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai and the 450 MeV Synchrotron Radiation Source INDUS-1 - at RRCAT, Indore. DAE has now taken up construction of even larger accelerators namely the 2.5 GeV SRS at RRCAT, Indore and a superconducting cyclotron at VECC, Calcutta. In addition, RRCAT and BARC have programmes to develop medical and industrial accelerators. IGCAR has a programme to setup accelerators for material science research.

Construction of accelerators requires expertise in accelerator physics and many high technologies such as conventional and superconducting magnets, cryogenics, Ultra High Vacuum (UHV), Radio Frequency (RF) and microwave, control, precision power supplies etc, areas which offer exciting opportunities to physicists, electrical and electronic engineers alike.

Because of its unique properties, lasers have found applications in wide-ranging areas from fundamental physics to engineering, and biomedicine. DAE has major programmes to develop the technology of most of the important lasers. For example RRCAT has indigenously developed lasers with continuous power of upto 10 kW and pulsed lasers with peak power in the range of terawatt. Various units of DAE also have vibrant R&D programmes on various aspects of laser physics and technology, non-linear optics, laser plasma interaction, laser materials; as well as development of laser based instruments and R&D on biomedical and industrial applications of laser.

Active R&D programmes in other high-tech areas spanning from plasma physics, material science, superconductivity to development of cryocoolers and helium liquefiers are also being pursued at various units of DAE.

The above programmes offer challenging and exciting opportunities to talented scientists and engineers to contribute to the frontiers of high technology. As far as possible scientists and engineers will be given the opportunity to select the areas of their liking.

The aim of the Training School is to provide training to the newly recruited scientists and engineers in the field of lasers, accelerators, plasma and cryogenics.