Laboratory for Laser Energetics to Lead New Inertial Fusion Energy Research Hub
Rochester’s LLE has been awarded $10 million by the DOE to advance inertial fusion energy research, leading efforts to create innovative laser technologies and train a new generation of scientists in this emerging clean energy field.
Rochester's LLE Awarded $10 Million for Inertial Fusion Energy Research
The University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) has received a four-year, $10 million award from the US Department of Energy's Office of Fusion Energy Science. This funding will allow LLE to lead a national research hub focused on advancing inertial fusion energy (IFE) science and technology.
The LLE-led inertial fusion energy hub, known as IFE-COLoR, will bring together experts from LLE, the University of California-Los Angeles, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and private sector companies. The goal of the hub is to develop a direct-drive IFE laser system that can pave the way for the world's first fusion power plant.
This award is part of a DOE initiative to stimulate IFE research and build upon the recent breakthrough in achieving ignition, or a fusion reaction that creates a net energy gain. LLE's extensive experience in inertial confinement fusion and laser science makes it well-suited to lead this new hub and advance fusion energy as a clean and abundant power source.
Advancing Laser-Plasma Science for Inertial Fusion Energy
One of the main challenges in developing an IFE system is efficiently coupling energy from the laser driver onto the fusion target. The IFE-COLoR hub will focus on addressing this challenge by mitigating laser-plasma instabilities.
These instabilities have been a long-standing obstacle in inertial confinement fusion drivers. The IFE-COLoR team plans to use broadband laser technologies to deliver a novel long-pulse laser that can mitigate laser-plasma instabilities. This approach is expected to enable over 90 percent of the laser energy to be coupled with the implosion, creating a practical and economically viable laser-driven IFE system.
To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, the hub will use advanced laser technologies developed by LLE and conduct experiments guided by hydrodynamic simulations. The goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of laser-plasma interaction and pave the way for a future direct-drive inertial fusion energy system.
Building the Future of Inertial Fusion Energy
In addition to advancing the science and technology of inertial fusion energy, the IFE-COLoR hub is committed to educating and training the next generation of scientists and engineers in this field. The hub will support a new annual IFE Summer Undergraduate Research Program at LLE, providing hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate students.
The University of Rochester's LLE has a long history of pioneering research in laser-driven fusion and high-intensity laser science. As the largest US Department of Energy university-based research program, LLE is well-equipped to lead the way in advancing fusion energy and preparing a dedicated workforce for the future.
Government officials have expressed their support for the inertial fusion energy hub at Rochester, recognizing the importance of clean and sustainable energy sources. With this new funding and collaboration, LLE is poised to make significant contributions to the development of fusion energy and the transition to a carbon-free future.
