NIF Laser

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a high-tech research center that uses powerful lasers to create extreme conditions similar to those inside stars or nuclear explosions. It employs 192 laser beams focused onto a tiny target, typically a fuel pellet containing hydrogen isotopes. The goal is to heat and compress the fuel to initiate nuclear fusion—the process that powers the sun—potentially providing a clean, abundant energy source in the future. NIF's experiments also help scientists understand nuclear physics, astrophysics, and improve national security by simulating nuclear weapon conditions safely.