Abstract: On December 5th, 2022, controlled fusion ignition was demonstrated for the first time in a lab at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) National Ignition Facility (NIF). This major achievement in the field of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) required a multi-decadal effort involving broad national and international collaborations. To drive the fusion ignition reaction with the compressed fuel capsule, the NIF laser delivered a high-precision pulse shape with 2.05 MJ of ultra-violet (UV) laser energy and a peak power of 440 TW, achieving a fusion yield of 3.15 MJ. Since then, LLNL has achieved fusion ignition many more times, the latest in April 2025 that produced a record authorized yield of 8.6 MJ. These accomplishments are an accumulation of six decades of dedicated work pushing the boundaries of cutting-edge research in laser science, optics technology, target fabrication, and an improved understanding of ICF science. Ignition creates a miniature star on earth, allowing NIF to enter a new regime of experimental capabilities for the nation’s Stockpile Stewardship Program and lay the groundwork for a virtually limitless energy source.
About the speaker: Dr. Liao is the Workforce Manager for the National Ignition Facility and Photon Science Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). During his visit, he will discuss LLNL internship and workforce development opportunities and explore ways to strengthen collaborations between UCI and LLNL, including student engagement and workforce pathways.