Top

NIF smashes energy record with 2.15 MJ pulse

July 11, 2018

Category:

The 192-beam laser at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California has set a new energy record, delivering a 2.15 MJ pulse to its target chamber.

Officials at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), where the giant system is located, say that represents more than a 10 per cent increase on the previous best of 1.9 MJ – a milestone set back in March 2012.

“This demonstration shot successfully meets a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Level 2 milestone for 2018,” stated the laboratory, adding that the demonstration could see NIF operate at substantially higher energies in the future – and well beyond the original design specification of 1.8 MJ.

Read More on Optics.org