United States National Ignition Facility

The United States National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a large research center in California that studies how to achieve nuclear fusion—replicating the Sun’s energy process on Earth. It uses powerful lasers to heat and compress small fuel pellets, aiming to initiate fusion reactions that produce more energy than they consume. This research helps scientists understand fundamental physics, improve nuclear weapons safety, and explore potential clean energy sources. NIF’s work is a key part of efforts to develop safe, sustainable fusion energy and understand matter under extreme conditions.