Known as the National Ignition Facility (NIF), the unit consists of 192 separate beams travelling 1,000 feet to converge at one point.
One of the key uses of the laser, the lab says, is to test aging nuclear armaments for safety. The unit can also be used in developing green energy systems and in astrophysics, where it will allow researchers to mirror conditions inside planets and solar systems.
Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, the project's director, Ed Moses, said: “It's the cathedral story. We put together the best physicists, the best engineers, the best of industry and academia. It's not often you get that opportunity and pull it off."
Bright sparks
Meet some of our Role Models who use lasers as part of their job.
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Date Published: June 01, 2009
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