New $150M facility will fire 7-petawatt lasers to (hopefully) achieve nuclear fusion

CSU's $150M facility to achieve nuclear fusion with 7-petawatt lasers by 2026.

: Colorado State University will open a $150 million facility in 2026 aimed at achieving nuclear fusion through laser technology. The Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science Facility, a collaboration with Marvel Fusion and the Department of Energy, will focus on laser-driven fusion research. The facility will combine three lasers capable of producing nearly 7 petawatts of power to explore future clean energy solutions. Additionally, the facility will support medical applications and high-resolution imaging research.

Colorado State University is building a groundbreaking $150 million facility set to open in 2026, aiming to achieve nuclear fusion utilizing state-of-the-art laser technology. Named the Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science Facility, it is backed by Marvel Fusion and the Department of Energy, with $28 million in federal funds and cutting-edge lasers from Marvel Fusion.

The facility will integrate two lasers from Marvel Fusion with a CSU-developed upgraded laser system, delivering nearly 7 petawatts of power in ultra-short pulses for fusion research. The immense power concentration aims to propel laser-driven nuclear fusion as a potential clean and sustainable energy source.

Apart from fusion, the facility's advanced laser systems are poised to benefit fields like medicine and imaging, providing precise tumor treatments and high-resolution X-ray capabilities. University President Amy Parsons emphasized CSU's role as a leader in laser research, making the facility a critical part of CSU's Advanced Laser for Extreme Photonics Center.

nuclear fusionlaser technologyclean energy