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NIF sets record for laser performance

The National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory recently set a world record for laser performance when it produced 10,400 joules of ultraviolet laser light in a single laser beamline.

The NIF laser system has now demonstrated ultraviolet laser energy equivalent to 2 million joules in 192 beams. This "full NIF equivalent" performance exceeds the design requirement of 1.8 million joules specified for NIF.

"The NIF project has demonstrated excellent management and technical performance under very demanding circumstances. NIF continues surpassing expectations and is now breaking world records. It is well on its way to becoming one of the jewels of NNSA and the nuclear weapons complex," said Linton Brooks, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

George Miller, NIF associate director added, "We have met or exceeded all current required milestones in the baseline established three years ago. We have now demonstrated on a per-beam basis the critical performance criteria of NIF. These accomplishments show that NIF is ready to fulfill the promise of its vital role in maintaining the viability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent through the stockpile stewardship program."

NIF's football stadium-sized building will house 192 laser beams delivering ultraviolet laser light to millimeter-sized targets. The energy available in NIF can be used to produce conditions of extreme temperature and pressure, similar to those that occur in stars and in exploding nuclear weapons.

To read a news release from Lawrence Livermore lab, click here.

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