Funding will support the project team's small-scale research and development of gaseous optical elements technology for the purpose of manipulating high-power lasers for future laser-driven nuclear fusion power plants.
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
September 9, 2025
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Funding will support the project team's small-scale research and development of gaseous optical elements technology for the purpose of manipulating high-power lasers for future laser-driven nuclear fusion power plants. Specifically, the project team will (1) model and design simulations of operating system and system components, (2) validate performance of model system to meet performance metrics, (3) combine system components and perform integrated simulations to validate design targets, (4) fine-tune system and perform testing to validate final concept metrics. If successful, this project will result in a toolkit of gaseous optical components—mirrors, lenses, and beam shapers that can be used to build inertial fusion energy drivers and would also have potential applications in manufacturing and high-power laser development, meeting the growing needs of rising domestic energy use and thereby increasing U.S. energy security.