Inertial Fusion Energy Infrastructure

LaserNetUS is a U.S. Department of Energy–supported network of high-intensity laser facilities that provides researchers with access to advanced laser capabilities across the United States. Researchers can competitively apply for facility time to conduct experiments in areas such as high-energy-density (HED) physics, plasma physics, particle acceleration, materials science, and inertial fusion energy (IFE)-relevant research.

The ATLAS Facility will provide a high-repetition-rate, multi-petawatt laser platform for IFE and HED research. ATLAS will integrate CSU’s upgraded ALEPH-2 laser with Marvel Fusion’s laser system. ALEPH-2 will incorporate diode pumping and modernized components to enable reliable operation at repetition rates of up to 10 Hz. Marvel Fusion’s laser system will include two beamlines, each delivering >100 J, ~100 fs pulses at 10 Hz, with >10% wall-plug efficiency. Together, these advanced beamlines will enable scalable, repeatable experiments to investigate fusion-relevant target coupling, driver physics, materials, and other technologies critical to advancing IFE. Facility construction is expected to be completed in 2027.

This beamlet is being developed by Inertia in collaboration with LLNL and directly supports the DOE Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap’s mid-term IFE strategy. Specifically, the Roadmap calls for a single DPSSL prototype with enhanced power capabilities and an electrical wall-plug efficiency exceeding 10% to substantially de-risk laser-driver technology for fusion applications. The demonstrator is intended to advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of commercial IFE.