Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have found that implosions designed for inertial fusion energy (IFE) can tolerate significant imperfections before performance abruptly declines, a finding that could inform the design of fuel targets for future fusion power plants. The findings were detailed in a paper titled "Robustness of inertial fusion energy relevant implosions to low-mode asymmetries," published recently in Physics of Plasmas and selected for the journal's cover. The study was led by LLNL physicist Timothy Johnson, who directed the research and analysis
Fusion Energy#Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory#Energy#High-Energy-Density Science#HPC#Simulation#and Data Science#National Ignition Facility and Photon Science#Top Story
Technology & InnovationLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
How do you measure what can't be seen? In the medical field, this is routine. Thermometers check temperatures and X-rays can show broken bones. But what if you are trying to measure something hotter than the center of the sun that vanishes in 100 trillionths of a second? What if it's an experiment on Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF)? "We can't just stick a thermometer in our experiment because it's 200 million degrees. We can't use an X-ray machine because it's 50 times denser than lead," said experimental physicist Dave Schlossberg. "We had to
Fusion Energy#Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory#Engineering#High-Energy-Density Science#Lasers and Optical S&T#National Ignition Facility and Photon Science#Physical and Life Sciences#Physics#Top Story
Technology & InnovationLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Diamond is more than a dazzling gem — the extremely hard form of carbon makes up the pellet that encases fuel for inertial confinement fusion, and scientists believe it rains down deep inside ice giant planets like Neptune and Uranus. In both cases, the material experiences enormous pressures. Until now, experiments and simulations have disagreed about how it actually behaves under those conditions. In a new study, published in Nature Physics, researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) document how diamond melts under pressures three times greater than the conditions at
Fusion EnergyTechnology & Innovation#Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory#High-Energy-Density Science#Laboratory Directed Research and Development#National Ignition Facility and Photon Science#Physical and Life Sciences#Top Story#fusion#plasma physics
Technology & InnovationLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists and engineers have been selected to lead 10 Phase I projects under the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Genesis Mission, applying AI to challenges spanning high-performance computing (HPC), fusion energy, Earth systems science, materials discovery, biology, quantum technologies and fundamental physics. LLNL researchers also will contribute to 19 additional Genesis Mission projects led by partner institutions across the national laboratories, academia and industry. DOE announced the awardees July 22 at the Genesis Mission Summit in
Fusion EnergySpace & AstronomyParticle Physics#Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory#Academic Engagement#Advanced Materials and Manufacturing#Bioscience and Bioengineering#computing#Defense#Energy#Engineering
Technology & InnovationLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is home to some of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of the century — from fusion ignition and exascale computing to monolithic telescopes. But thanks to LLNL's Innovation and Partnerships Office (IPO), those breakthroughs don't remain inside the fence. "We connect cutting-edge science with real-world applications, empowering businesses to thrive while advancing the United States' technological edge," said IPO Director Matthew Garrett. "IPO identifies economic opportunities, protects LLNL intellectual property, and transfers it to the
Fusion Energy#Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory#Academic Engagement#Economic Impact#Industry Collaborations#Top Story#fusion#plasma physics
