Zulfikar Najmudin

Zulfikar Najmudin is a Professor of Physics and Deputy Director of the John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science at Imperial College London. He leads the plasma-based particle acceleration research group within the Blackett Laboratory, specializing in ultrafast laser-plasma interactions and high-energy physics. His affiliations include the Plasma Physics Group, the Space, Plasma and Climate Community, and the John Adams Institute, which collaborates with the University of Oxford and Royal Holloway College.

His research focuses on high-intensity laser interactions with matter, laser-driven fusion, and next-generation particle accelerators. Key contributions include pioneering work on laser wakefield acceleration (e.g., achieving >100 MeV electron beams and narrow-energy proton beams) and novel X-ray imaging techniques using plasma-based sources.

His work bridges fundamental plasma physics with applied technologies, such as compact accelerator-driven X-ray sources for medical imaging and industrial applications. Notable advancements include radiation reaction observations in strong fields and optimization of laser-driven ion acceleration through plasma density control.

He holds a permanent researcher position at Imperial’s Physics Department and has contributed to major international collaborations like the EuPRAXIA project for plasma wakefield-based accelerators. His research spans theoretical modeling, experimental validation, and automation of high-intensity laser experiments.