U.S. Builds World's Most Powerful Fusion Laser

On Friday at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the world's most powerful laser was unveiled. The laser, known as the National Ignition Facility, is used to achieve fusion ignition in the laboratory, obtaining more energy from the target than is provided by the laser.

"The completion of NIF opens the door to scientific advancement and discovery that promises to enhance our national security, could help break Americas dependence on foreign oil, and will lead to new breakthroughs in the worlds of astrophysics, materials science and many other scientific disciplines." the NIF said.

The stadium-sized NIF is able to focus all of its 192 individual laser beams into a spot about one-half the millimeter in diameter at the center of its 10 meter diameter target chamber. Using NIF, the National Nuclear Security Administration will be able to safely and reliably maintain the nations nuclear deterrent without conducting nuclear testing.

According to the NNSA the United Station has not deployed a new nuclear weapon in over 20 years, nor has conducted any underground nuclear testing since the early 90's. Instead, scientists at the NNSA maintain the warheads in the stockpile well beyond their original life by using sophisticated supercomputers and facilities that test the safety, security and reliability of U.S. weapons in NNSA laboratories.
    
"Completion of the National Ignition Facility is a true milestone that will make America safer and more energy independent by opening new avenues of scientific advancement and discovery," said NNSA Administrator Thomas DAgostino. "NIF will be a cornerstone of a critical national security mission, ensuring the continuing reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile without underground nuclear testing, while also providing a path to explore the frontiers of basic science, and potential technologies for energy independence."

Next year, scientists will begin using the new super laser to create controlled fusion reactions, like the ones found in our sun.

The possibilities are endless with the power of light at NIF which became the first fusion laser in the world to break the megajoule barrier  (a megajoule is the energy consumed by 10,000 100-watt light bulbs in one second) by delivering 1.1 million joules of ultraviolet energy to the center of its target chamber more than 25 times more energy than the previous record-holder.

More Information: NIF Web Site