The National Ignition Facility

, 11 October 2010
news

If it’s not a massive particle accelerator it has to be a mini star, at least that’s what the scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory thought back in 1997 when this new facility begun its construction…

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is the world’s largest and highest-energy laser and this fall NIF is conducting integrated ignition experiments that will focus the energy of 192 giant laser beams on a BB-sized target filled with hydrogen fuel. NIF’s ultimate goal is to fuse the hydrogen atoms’ nuclei and produce more energy than the laser energy required to spark the reaction. This is the same fusion energy process that makes the stars shine and provides the life-giving energy of the sun.

NIF's final optics inspection system, extended into the target chamber designed to produce images of all 192 beamline final optics assemblies

To us it looks more like X-men’s danger room, but to most scientists this little-huge installation could achieve fusion by 2012!!!

After the target chamber was lowered into place, the seven-story walls and roof of the Target Bay were completed
The single largest piece of equipment at the National Ignition Facility is its 130-ton target chamber. The design features 6 symmetric middle plates and 12 asymmetric outer plates, which were poured at the Ravenswood Aluminum Mill in Ravenswood, West Virginia

You may well visit the Boston page where you’ll find many many more photos & explanations… not easy to understand (any) part of the process but you can still try. If reaching Fusion power is a chimera this facility might just help… or as many say… it may just be a waste of time… and a lot of €€€€.

Like what you see? AQNB continues to exist only through the dedication and generosity of the community it promotes. You can help us keep going by way of a monthly subscription to our Patreon.

All funds raised will go directly to editorial commissioning and support our contributors in their excellent work.

laser NIF photography The National Ignition Facility
Related Media

Chris Marker @ Whitechapel Gallery, Apr 18-Jun 22

8 April 2014
news

If it’s not a massive particle accelerator it has to be a mini star, at least that’s what the scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory thought back in 1997 when this new facility begun its construction…

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is the world’s largest and highest-energy laser and this fall NIF is conducting integrated ignition experiments that will focus the energy of 192 giant laser beams on a BB-sized target filled with hydrogen fuel. NIF’s ultimate goal is to fuse the hydrogen atoms’ nuclei and produce more energy than the laser energy required to spark the reaction. This is the same fusion energy process that makes the stars shine and provides the life-giving energy of the sun.

NIF's final optics inspection system, extended into the target chamber designed to produce images of all 192 beamline final optics assemblies

To us it looks more like X-men’s danger room, but to most scientists this little-huge installation could achieve fusion by 2012!!!

After the target chamber was lowered into place, the seven-story walls and roof of the Target Bay were completed
The single largest piece of equipment at the National Ignition Facility is its 130-ton target chamber. The design features 6 symmetric middle plates and 12 asymmetric outer plates, which were poured at the Ravenswood Aluminum Mill in Ravenswood, West Virginia

You may well visit the Boston page where you’ll find many many more photos & explanations… not easy to understand (any) part of the process but you can still try. If reaching Fusion power is a chimera this facility might just help… or as many say… it may just be a waste of time… and a lot of €€€€.

  share news item

Open Studios @ YSA, Apr 6

3 April 2014
news

If it’s not a massive particle accelerator it has to be a mini star, at least that’s what the scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory thought back in 1997 when this new facility begun its construction…

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is the world’s largest and highest-energy laser and this fall NIF is conducting integrated ignition experiments that will focus the energy of 192 giant laser beams on a BB-sized target filled with hydrogen fuel. NIF’s ultimate goal is to fuse the hydrogen atoms’ nuclei and produce more energy than the laser energy required to spark the reaction. This is the same fusion energy process that makes the stars shine and provides the life-giving energy of the sun.

NIF's final optics inspection system, extended into the target chamber designed to produce images of all 192 beamline final optics assemblies

To us it looks more like X-men’s danger room, but to most scientists this little-huge installation could achieve fusion by 2012!!!

After the target chamber was lowered into place, the seven-story walls and roof of the Target Bay were completed
The single largest piece of equipment at the National Ignition Facility is its 130-ton target chamber. The design features 6 symmetric middle plates and 12 asymmetric outer plates, which were poured at the Ravenswood Aluminum Mill in Ravenswood, West Virginia

You may well visit the Boston page where you’ll find many many more photos & explanations… not easy to understand (any) part of the process but you can still try. If reaching Fusion power is a chimera this facility might just help… or as many say… it may just be a waste of time… and a lot of €€€€.

  share news item
Recent articles