We are pleased to announce the 15th International Conference on High Energy Density Laboratory Astrophysics (HEDLA), to be held April 20–24, 2026, at Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan. This conference will be co-located with the International Conference on High Energy Density Science (HEDS) as part of the Optics and Photonics International Congress (OPIC).
HEDLA is a topical conference series that began in 1996 and has run approximately every other year since then. The goal is to use or develop laboratory experiments to understand high-energy-density phenomena in the universe. HEDS covers the high-energy-density sciences with high-power lasers and their applications.
Past Meetings:
Scope:
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High-power lasers and pulsed-power facilities enable the creation of extreme states of pressure and temperature well beyond those attainable under terrestrial conditions. Such high-energy-density states provide a powerful platform for exploring fundamental processes in astrophysical plasmas, which remain among the most compelling subjects in modern science. Laboratory astrophysics, in particular, offers a unique and complementary research methodology, advancing our understanding of astrophysical phenomena through controlled experiments in conjunction with astronomical observations and theoretical or simulation studies, while fostering collaboration across diverse scientific communities. Proposed Topics include, but are not limited to, the following areas of high-energy-density laboratory astrophysics:
Proposed Topics:
- Fluid and Collisional Plasma Dynamics: jets, turbulence, dynamos, instabilities
- Collisionless Plasmas and Particle Acceleration: shocks, magnetic reconnection, kinetic processes
- Transport and Atomic/Radiative Processes: heat conduction, anomalous resistivity, diffusion, radiative transport, opacity, spectral line shapes, photoionization
- Dense Plasma Physics: equations of state, warm dense matter, planetary interiors
- New Frontiers in High-Energy-Density Science: quantum electrodynamics effects, pair plasmas, nuclear astrophysics, emerging experimental facilities, and advanced computing
Host Organization:
Institute of Laser Engineering, The University of Osaka
OPTICS & PHOTONICS International Congress
Supported by
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
- Sessions will begin at 9:00 on April 20 (Mon)
- HEDLA/HEDS Dinner on April 21 (Tue)
- OPIC Conference Banquet on April 22 (Wed)
- Sessions will end around 17:00 on April 24 (Fri)
Scientific Program:
- Invited Talk: 20 min talk + 5 min discussion
- Contributed Talk: 12 min talk + 3 min discussion
- Poster panel size is 210 cm (height) x 90 cm (width).
Confirmed Invited Speakers:
Fabio BACCHINI
Xue-Ning BAI
Archie BOTT
Toshihiro FUJII
Gianluca GREGORI
Fan GUO
Guang-yue HU
Hantao JI
Timothy JOHNSON
Daiji KATO
Yohei KAWAZURA
Yasuhiro KURAMITSU
Martin LEMOINE
Guillaume LOISEL
Sabrina NAGEL
Shuichi MATSUKIYO
Stefano MERLINI
Yosuke MIZUNO
Luca ORUSA
Gabriel RIGON
Dongsu RYU
Haruhiko SAITO
Joao SANTOS
Derek SCHAEFFER
Yinren SHOU
Masaomi TANAKA
Petros TZEFERACOS
Vicente VALENZUELA-VILLASECA
Suming WENG
Hiroya YAMAGUCHI
Weipeng YAO
Dawei YUAN
Tim Ziegler
Submission:
Please submit your abstract via the OPIC submission site.
- Proceed to “Submit your Paper Online.” After creating an account, you will be able to upload your abstract.
- Select “HEDLA/HEDS2026” as the conference name.
- Abstracts are limited to 1 page and should be formatted based on the HEDS Abstract Template.
- Abstracts must be submitted in PDF format.
- Abstracts are text only. No figures, images, or tables are allowed.
Deadline:
December 22, 2025
Registration Site:
OPIC registration site
The registration site will open in January, 2026.
Registration Fee:
Registration Type On/Before March 26, 2026 After March 27, 2026 General JPY 75,000 JPY 82,000 Student / Retiree JPY 25,000 JPY 29,000
- 1 USD ≈ 155 JPY, 1 EUR ≈ 175 JPY
- The HEDLA/HEDS Dinner and OPIC Conference Banquet fees are NOT included in the regular or student registrations.
- For early-bird registration, please complete your payment by March 26, 2026.
Conference Site:
Pacifico Yokohama Conference Center
1-1-1, Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama 220-0012, Japan (Map)
Access:
Pacifico Yokohama's Guide
- If you are arriving by air, Haneda Airport is the most convenient option. (Access by Air)
There are many hotels within walking distance of the conference venue. We have selected several major hotels to make your choice easier. Please check the Recommended Hotel List.
Conference Chair:
Ryosuke KODAMA (U Osaka)
Takayoshi SANO (U Osaka)
HEDLA Scientific Organizing Committee:
Mandy Bethkenhagen (LULI)
Dan CASEY (LLNL)
Alexis CASNER (U Bordeaux)
Gilbert COLLINS (U Rochester)
Tilo DOPPNER (LLNL)
Forrest DOSS (LANL)
Frederico FIUZA (IST)
Gianluca GREGORI (U Oxford)
Natsumi IWATA (U Osaka)
Hantao JI (Princeton U)
Maria Gatu Johnson (MIT)
Marcus KNUDSON (SNL)
Ryosuke KODAMA (U Osaka)
Carolyn KURANZ (U Michigan)
Ivan OLEYNIK (U South Florida)
Hye-Sook PARK (LLNL)
Tomek PLEWA (FSU)
Bruce REMINGTON (LLNL)
Dmitri RYUTOV (LLNL)
Youichi SAKAWA (U Osaka)
Takayoshi SANO (U Osaka)
Derek SCHAEFFER (UCLA)
Petros TZEFERACOS (U Rochester)
Feilu WANG (CAS)
Program Committee:
Yutaka Ohira (U Tokyo)
Youichi SAKAWA (U Osaka)
Takayoshi SANO (U Osaka) Chair
hedla2026 (at) ile.osaka-u.ac.jp
http://www.ile.osaka-u.ac.jp/hedla2026/