§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the generating capacity in watts of the laser at Aldermaston used in nuclear holocaust simulation experiments.
§ Mr. GoodhartThe high power laser—HELEN—at Aldermaston is not used in "nuclear holocaust simulation" experiments but in high temperature physics experiments relevant to nuclear weapon design. The laser is capable of a maximum output of 2 terawatts, but is currently operating at 1 terawatt. The duration of the pulse is less than one thousand-millionth of a second.