Z Pulsed Power Facility
up to 30 MA, Z Beamlet laser, x-ray/optical/nuclear diagnostics.
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About the Hub
DEEP IFE
The DEEP IFE Hub, led by Sandia National Laboratories, focuses on advancing pulsed-power technologies for commercially viable fusion energy. The Hub addresses four key areas: repetition-rate pulsed-power drivers, advanced transmission-line technologies, computational modeling and target design, and post-shot environmental effects on driver-target coupling. The initiative investigates transmission lines that enable driver standoff, reduce debris, and maintain efficient energy delivery to fusion targets. Computational and experimental studies explore target stabilization, energy-transfer physics, and layered and graded-density target designs to improve coupling efficiency. The Hub also characterizes how electrical pulses and chamber conditions affect post-shot environments. Leveraging partnerships across national laboratories, academia, and industry, DEEP coordinates solutions to shared pulser IFE challenges while prioritizing workforce development.
Core Research
Research Thrusts
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High-Repetition-Rate Pulsed-Power Driver Technologies — Improve the reliability, reproducibility, and lifetime of pulsed-power components at IFE-relevant repetition rates, including failure characterization and lifetime-extension strategies -
Advanced Transmission-Line Technologies and Driver–Target Coupling — Develop and evaluate transit-time-isolated and low-mass transmission lines to increase coupling efficiency while reducing debris, waste, and exposure of the driver to fusion events.
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Advanced Target Design, Modeling, and Energy-Coupling Optimization — Develop computational and experimental tools for understanding fuel–liner coupling, implosion dynamics, and instability; use AI-assisted design and advanced density/material profiles to improve target stability, energy transfer, and fusion gain.
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Workforce Development — Build a broad and sustainable pulser IFE workforce by engaging undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students through research, internships, summer schools, seminars.
SNL
Capabilities
The Hub members offer world-class capabilities in pulsed-power technology, plasma and high-energy-density physics, advanced target design, materials science, computational modeling, and engineering
Mykonos
five 1-MA LTDs with electrical, x-ray, and optical diagnostics.
LAPS & CESZAR
Multiple laser drivers and advanced optical/EUV diagnostics & 1-MA CESZAR facility.
Flash Center for Computational Science
Offers world-class high-performance computing and advanced multiphysics modeling for HED and fusion science.