How LLNL helped build the world's largest camera
June 23, 2025 — For much of the past decade, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers have been designing major optical components for the world’s newest telescope.
The Power of Partnerships: How LLNL Laser Technology is Transforming Industrial Manufacturing
Jan. 7, 2025 — Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) Innovation and Partnerships Office (IPO) engages with the private sector to bring scientific breakthroughs to market by transferring LLNL technology through licensing and partnerships.
Harnessing the power of AI for a safe and secure future
May 8, 2024 — Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, alongside the Department of Energy's (DOE’s) 17 national labs, is harnessing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for a safer, more secure future.
Igniting Scientific Discovery with AI and Supercomputing
April 15, 2024 — The success of ignition marks a significant milestone in fusion energy research, and was facilitated in part by the precision simulations and rapid experimental data analysis only possible through high performance computing and AI-driven tools — an approach LLNL calls “cognitive simulation.”
What is fusion ignition?
Dec. 5, 2023 — On Dec. 5, 2022, LLNL made history, demonstrating fusion ignition for the first time in a laboratory setting – an achievement six decades in the making. What is fusion ignition, how did it happen at the National Ignition Facility and why is it important?
Data Science Meets Fusion
May 30, 2023 — On December 5, 2022, researchers at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first experiment to ever achieve net energy gain from nuclear fusion.
LLNL Ignition Celebration Recap
May 18, 2023 — On a day certain to rank in the upper echelon of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) historical milestones, Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration officials, members of Congress, past Lab directors and employees gathered outside the National Ignition Facility on May 8 to celebrate the Lab’s 2022 fusion ignition achievement.
LLNL Ignition Celebration
May 15, 2023 — On a day certain to rank in the upper echelon of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) historical milestones, Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration officials, members of Congress, past Lab directors and employees gathered outside the National Ignition Facility on May 8 to celebrate the Lab’s 2022 fusion ignition achievement.
Meet the Experts: Issa Tamer, Laser Physicist
April 24, 2023 — As a high school student, Issa Tamer enjoyed science but hadn’t chosen a field. While working a part-time job, he discovered the National Ignition Facility (NIF) on a customer’s computer and was instantly fascinated. Inspired, he set his sights on working with lasers at LLNL. Today, Issa is a laser physicist at LLNL.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieves fusion ignition
Dec. 13, 2022 — On Dec. 5, 2022, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility achieved the first controlled fusion ignition, producing more energy from fusion than the laser energy used. This major breakthrough, decades in the making, supports the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Stockpile Stewardship Program and advances clean fusion energy research.
The Beamline to Ignition
Nov 7, 2022 — What happens when 192 of the world’s highest-energy lasers converge on a target the size of a peppercorn filled with hydrogen atoms? Answer: the same thing that happens inside the Sun and the stars: fusion!
50 years of LLNL Lasers
July 21, 2022 — In this video, Jeff Wisoff, Principal Associate Director of the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science Directorate, celebrates 50 years of laser leadership at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Spider-Inspired Technology Inside the World's Most Energetic Laser
July 13, 2022 — Fusion experiments at NIF rely on extreme precision and symmetry. Taking a cue from nature, LLNL's engineers and scientists worked with a breakthrough material to get us closer to achieving fusion ignition.
How Diamonds Are Used for Nuclear Fusion
June 22, 2022 — Take a look inside the target capsules used at the NIF, where nanoscopic diamond technology is making a huge difference in some of the world's most energetic fusion experiments.
The Threshold of Ignition
Feb. 8, 2022 — On Aug. 8, 2021, researchers at LLNL attained a historic breakthrough in fusion when an experiment at NIF produced 1.35 million joules of fusion energy – the threshold of fusion ignition.
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Laser
Dec. 2, 2020 — Lasers have dramatically impacted our lives and yet they have only been around since the 1960s. Join us in an exploration of the laser’s history and how LLNL researchers use them to push the boundaries of science and technology.
Light Experiments at Home with a Laser Physicist
May 26, 2020 — Join LLNL's Félicie Albert as she demonstrates some awesome physics magic at home!
Staying Entertained with PHYSICS! | Learning With Leland
April 16, 2020 — Follow along while computational physicist Leland Ellison takes you through some fun physics demonstrations you can do at home!
Roosevelt Junior High School students get rare glimpse of a NIF shot
March 16, 2020 — An eighth-grade class from Modesto’s Roosevelt Junior High School happened to be in the visitor's gallery overlooking a NIF laser switchyard when the laser fired for a Discovery Science program experiment. This is a video clip from that rare moment.
NIF-JLF User Groups Celebrate HED Science
March 10, 2020 — We asked several attendees of an annual National Ignition Facility and Jupiter Laser Facility User Groups meeting to tell us why the meeting is important for their work and for the exciting future of high energy density science.
Inside the ARC Laser
Sep. 18, 2019 — This “NIF in Focus” video gives an overview of how the Advanced Radiographic Capability (ARC) laser, an extremely powerful short pulse laser, operates within the NIF laser and enables researchers to probe and create extreme states of matter.
The Eighth Wonder of NIF | National Ignition Facility
Aug. 21, 2019 — How did NIF go from just a scientific dream to the reality of being the most energetic laser in the world? Check out: Ten Years of the National Ignition Facility. But there's something else that's very special about NIF, and that's the people who run it. Take a peek into the lives of those who work at NIF.
Ten Years of the National Ignition Facility: What It Took to Make NIF a Reality
Aug. 13, 2019 — How did such an extraordinary facility as NIF come to be built? The journey to NIF was an epic one, resulting in a facility that has changed the face of science forever.
NIF | How the ARC Laser Works
Feb. 13, 2019 — The Advanced Radiographic Capability (ARC) laser is an extremely powerful short pulse laser. It operates within the NIF laser system and enables researchers to probe and create extreme states of matter.
National Ignition Facility & Photon Science - Science on a Mission
March 2, 2018 — The National Ignition Facility is the world premiere institution of nuclear science, drawing the brightest and best scientists from around the world to work together to answer one of science's grand challenges - inertial confinement fusion.
High Energy Density Physics Intern Mira Partha
Jan. 3, 2018 — Learn what it's like to be an intern at LLNL from Mira Partha, whose project is on self-generated magnetic fields in the hot spot of NIF implosions.
How powerful is the NIF laser?
Oct. 19, 2017 — The most energetic laser system in the world using a technique called inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Tammy Ma helps us picture the amazing scales of ICF.
What happens when you combine laser beams?
Oct. 16, 2017 — The way the Death Star works in the fictional Star Wars universe has long been dismissed by scientists as something that defies our physical reality, but researchers at LLNL's NIF have found a way to successfully combine laser beams using plasma for the first time EVER.
LLNL scientist is passionate about targets
April 12, 2017 — With a lifelong passion for problem-solving and a love of production, Becky Butlin helped lead NIF's Target Fabrication Team through obstacles and challenges.
Take a ride along NIF's optics recycle loop
April 11, 2017 — NIF uses more than 40,000 optics to help guide 192 laser beams onto a target the size of a pencil eraser. Check out how the optics recycle loop repairs optics, saving time and money.
See the National Ignition Facility control room deliver a shot (360)
March 31, 2017 — This video gives 360-degree views of a NIF experiment inside the NIF Control Room, the laser bay, and the Target Chamber.
No Limit: Exploring the Science of the Universe
Oct. 26, 2016 — Scientists who conduct unique, cutting-edge Discovery Science experiments at NIF describe the excitement of doing research on the world’s most energetic laser system. For more information on conducting experiments on NIF, see https://lasers.llnl.gov/news/experime...
Henry Hui: Reaching Out to the Community
May 11, 2016 — LLNL mechanical engineer Henry Hui motivates young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as a way of giving back to the community.
A Growing Family of Targets for the National Ignition Facility
Feb. 22, 2016 — In this video, see how the remarkably tiny and precisely manufactured targets are enabling breakthrough physics and materials research. And read about the growing family of targets for NIF in Science & Technology Review.
The Optics Whisperer: Master Optician Hones His Art
May 12, 2015 — LLNL master optician Peter Thelin views his life’s work — hand-polishing and shaping optical materials — as a form of artistic expression and an important contribution to scientific research. Thelin discusses the factors that influenced his career choice and his unique opportunity to help preserve the statue of David.
Congressman Swalwell visits the National Ignition Facility
May 5, 2015 — Congressman Eric Swalwell visited the Laboratory to witness an experiment at NIF.
Tammy Ma and the Lure of Cutting-Edge Science
Oct. 23, 2014 — Dr. Tammy Ma, an experimental physicist at LLNL's NIF, describes the excitement of collaborating with world-class researchers at a national laboratory, the anticipation while waiting for the results of an experiment – and her ambition to become an astronaut.
Countdown to a NIF Laser Shot
May 20, 2013 — Ever wonder what it's like to fire the world's most powerful laser? These are the people and systems responsible for ensuring NIF's 192 beams simultaneously hit a target the size of a peppercorn.
How NIF Works
July 30, 2009 — Located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NIF uses 192 huge laser beams in a massive building, all focused down at the last moment at a 2 millimeter ball containing frozen hydrogen gas.
