STARFIRE Hub creates international synergies for inertial fusion energy
The LLNL-led Hub is one of three projects totaling $42 million in funding selected via competitive peer review under the DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement for Inertial Fusion Energy Science & Technology Accelerated Research (IFE-STAR).
"The achievement of ignition at LLNL's National Ignition Facility provides fresh impetus and the scientific foundation for IFE," says Dr. Tammy Ma, lead for LLNL's IFE initiative. "DOE’s IFE STAR program represents the re-establishment of the public U.S. program, and we are incredibly excited to bring together an excellent team to advance fusion energy."
The project aims to establish the fundamental science and technology for various laser-based Inertial Fusion approaches. Alongside researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Fraunhofer ILT, other key contributors include General Atomics, University of California campuses (San Diego, Berkeley, Los Angeles), University of Rochester, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Oklahoma, Texas A&M University, TRUMPF Inc., Leonardo Electronics US Inc., the Livermore Lab Foundation, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Savannah River National Laboratory, Xcimer Energy, Focused Energy Inc., and Longview Fusion Energy Systems.
Laser-based Inertial Confinement Fusion - from physics experiment to fusion power plant
At the Laser World of Photonics Congress 2023 in Munich, Germany, Ma and Haefner presented a joint plenary lecture on the potential of laser-based IFE as a future energy source. They emphasized the necessity of establishing the framework conditions required for its realization. This topic garnered significant attention at the International Fusion Science and Applications Conference in September 2023 in Denver, highlighting its global importance and the urgency in tackling the technological challenges. Haefner underscored the magnitude of the task, stating, "In order to realize our vision of deploying fusion power plants in the latter half of the century, it is crucial to maintain investments in fundamental physics and engineering research while simultaneously advancing key technologies to facilitate their commercialization. Consider, for example, the need for multiple high-energy lasers per power plant, which calls for a transformative shift in laser and optics production. This entails the implementation of automated production lines reminiscent of the automotive industry, yet with the precision required at the scale of a few optical wavelengths."
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT
