The Astra Gemini Project a high repetition rate dual beam petawatt laser facility

In July 2004 work started on a new dual-beam Ti:S PW laser facility at RAL. Intensities of between 10/sup 22/ and 10/sup 23/ Wcm/sup -2/ per beam are anticipated. We will describe this and the new science expected. A crucial aspect of the design is that the system will be capable of firing one shot per minute, offering a completely new experimental approach to ultra high intensity physics research.