Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

Program Overview: Blue Laser Fusion is advancing laser-driven inertial fusion energy through innovative optical systems and conceptual reactor design. Students will contribute to cutting-edge engineering and design challenges in either thermal-optical hardware development or integrated fusion chamber system design. 

Mentorship and Team: There will be one dedicated mentor for each project area (laser-optical hardware and fusion system design). We anticipate hosting 1–2 students per topic.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:
Mirror thermal management within optical enhancement cavity

• Model thermal performance of mirrors operating in a high-power laser system
• Develop prototype mirror mounts optimized for thermal management in ultra-clean vacuum
• Test and evaluate performance of developed prototype systems

• Translate physics concepts into conceptual and 3D CAD engineering designs
• Develop and refine subsystem designs that integrate into a full reaction chamber system
• Participate in full-system design reviews with the physics and engineering design team

Program Overview: The Computational X-ray Imaging team in BYU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy applies advanced x-ray imaging techniques to study materials relevant to inertial fusion energy. Students participate in a 10-week summer program that includes experiments at national DOE light sources and data analysis at BYU. Interns also benefit from BYU’s broader Physics & Astronomy REU, which provides a cohort experience with around 20 students.

Mentorship and Team: Two mentors, Dr. Richard Sandberg and Dr. John Ellsworth, lead the program. The team expects to host 5–6 students, with 2–3 funded by IFE-SURE.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Nanometer-scale 3D x-ray imaging of IFE foams using ptychographic tomography.
• Ultrafast x-ray imaging of shock wave interactions in IFE materials.
• Additional opportunities in neutron detection, plasma confinement, and fusion-related spectroscopy.

Program Overview: The Advanced Laser for Extreme Photonics (ALEPH) Center at Colorado State University offers summer research opportunities for 6–7 undergraduates. Students engage in high-energy laser research over a 10-week period, focusing on ultrafast laser systems and materials relevant to laser–matter interactions and fusion applications. The program provides exposure to engineering, optics, and materials science within one of the world’s premier ultrafast laser environments.

Mentorship and Team: 6–7 mentors guide 6–7 students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Generation of intense ultrafast x-ray flashes using nanostructures.
• Interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with nanostructured targets.
• Fabrication and diagnostics of dielectric thin-film coatings for high-power lasers.
• Super-resolution microscopy for defect characterization.
• Ultra-high intensity laser technologies, including compact ultrafast laser development and thermal transport in optics.
• Imaging and engagement of high-velocity fusion targets in vacuum environments.

Program Overview: The Cornell program focuses on computational modeling of laser pulse amplification through Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) in gases—a process critical for advancing short, intense ultraviolet laser pulses used in laser-driven inertial fusion. Students will gain experience in nonlinear laser optics, computational modeling, and the underlying physics relevant to inertial fusion energy research.

Mentorship and Team: A faculty member and a postdoctoral researcher will mentor one IFE-SURE student.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Computational modeling of SBS-based laser pulse amplification.
• Nonlinear laser optics for high-intensity ultraviolet pulse development.
• Applications of SBS in improving efficiency of laser-driven fusion systems.

Program Overview: Ergodic LLC is a boutique consultancy specializing in computational and AI/ML research for laser-driven inertial fusion. Students may work at Ergodic’s Seattle office or alongside collaborators at the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The program typically supports 2–3 students, who also have opportunities to attend DOE workshops and conferences.

Mentorship and Team: Two mentors guide the program, with plans to host 2 students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects: Projects explore computational optimization in fusion research, such as:

• Using gradient-based and gradient-free methods to optimize laser fusion simulations.
• Adjusting laser bandwidth to mitigate plasma instabilities and improve efficiency.

Program Overview: Focused Energy, founded in 2021, is advancing inertial fusion energy (IFE) technologies with approaches such as proton fast ignition, shock ignition, and central hotspot ignition. The company is actively developing laser-driven power plants aimed at producing clean, sustainable, and scalable energy. The summer research program seeks 2–3 undergraduates from diverse STEM fields for a 10-week appointment, emphasizing computational and applied mathematics. Students join a collaborative team of scientists and gain hands-on experience with advanced modeling and analysis techniques.

Mentorship and Team: 2–3 mentors will support 2–3 students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Uncertainty Quantification (UQ): Applying statistical and machine learning methods to assess sensitivity of fusion simulations to laser fluctuations and manufacturing imperfections.
• Black-Box Optimization (BBO): Implementing algorithms such as Bayesian optimization to identify optimal designs for fusion targets, maximizing performance in simulation studies.

Program Overview: General Atomics hosts interns within the Inertial Fusion Technologies (IFT) division of its Energy Group, supporting IFE programs for NNSA. Typically, 4–5 interns are hosted each summer for 10 weeks, with opportunities for part-time year-round internships for local students. Interns contribute to projects such as fabricating laser targets for facilities like NIF and OMEGA, developing advanced target manufacturing methods, and creating systems for precision laser engagement with high-speed targets.

Mentorship and Team: Approximately 6 mentors will support 4–5 interns, including some returning students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects: Projects focus on developing and testing targets and delivery systems for inertial fusion energy. Example work includes:

• Testing gas gun systems for launching and tracking spherical targets.
• Developing new fabrication and inspection methods for foam shells and capsules.
• Optimizing 3D printing for high-precision target components.
• Exploring ML/AI tools for laser experiments and data systems.
• Adapting reactor design codes for IFE power plant applications.

Program Overview: LLNL hosts over 1,000 interns annually, including undergraduates in the Fusion Energy Summer Research Program. This paid 10-week program provides opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research in physics, engineering, optics, and computational modeling. Students gain hands-on experience in fusion energy science at one of the nation’s leading laboratories, with projects bridging academic research and real-world applications in national security and clean energy.

Mentorship and Team: The IFE program expects to support 10–20 undergraduate students with guidance from expert mentors across multiple research areas.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects: Students tackle projects such as plasma modeling, fusion target design, diagnostic development, and experimental data analysis. Example projects include:

• Developing new diagnostics for ion sources.
• Advancing nano-3D-printing techniques using novel photonic systems.
• Studying ion collisions under dynamic screening effects.

Program Overview: Leonardo offers summer internships designed to provide undergraduates with applied experience in engineering and laboratory operations. Interns contribute to projects in hardware and software development while developing professional skills in organization, confidentiality, and communication. Students gain exposure to tools such as Altium and PSpice for TI, along with industry-standard platforms like Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.

Mentorship and Team: Internships are supervised by designated project leads, with day-to-day mentorship provided in lab and software development contexts.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Improvements to test lab software.
• Support for diode pump driver testing.
• Assistance with layout and schematic entry tools library development.

Program Overview: Funded through the Office of Science Fusion Energy Sciences program, the Los Alamos team develops capsule designs for inertial fusion energy (IFE) applications. Students will join the Integrated Design and Assessments (XTD.IDA) group, which is part of the LANL design community. This small, focused team offers students hands-on experience in fusion target design, simulation, and data analysis.

Mentorship and Team: The team includes one senior scientist and two postdoctoral researchers who will mentor 1–2 IFE-SURE students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Running radiation hydrodynamics simulations to design IFE reactor targets.
• Exploring different materials and laser pulse configurations for improved target performance.
• Testing target robustness by introducing off-normal design effects.
• Using Python-based analysis tools to interpret simulation results.

Program Overview: Marvel Fusion is advancing laser-driven inertial fusion energy using ultra-intense femtosecond laser pulses. As a U.S. Department of Energy IFE-STAR industry partner, Marvel collaborates with national labs and universities to pioneer scalable fusion energy systems. The company partners with Colorado State University at the ATLAS laser facility, supporting experimental campaigns, diagnostics development, and high-repetition-rate laser systems. Undergraduate participants will gain hands-on experience in ultrafast laser science, system integration, and data analysis during summer 2026.

Mentorship and Team: 3–6 mentors will guide approximately 3 students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Development and integration of advanced mechanical and electrical systems for laser delivery at ATLAS.
• Design and implementation of high-repetition-rate control systems for next-generation short-pulse lasers.
• Participation in laser experiments, including diagnostics development and experimental data analysis relevant to fusion.

Program Overview: Students will spend 10 weeks conducting an intensive research project within a laboratory affiliated with the Michigan Institute for Plasma Science & Engineering (MIPSE) and/or the NSF ZEUS Laser Facility. Each student is directly supervised by faculty and research staff and participates in a structured summer program that includes academic seminars, professional development sessions, and community-building activities. The experience concludes with a research symposium and poster presentation.

Mentorship and Team: We anticipate hosting 1–2 students, with a large pool of mentors available to match students based on their research interests.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Laser–plasma interactions
• Optics and ultrafast laser systems
• High-energy-density physics
• Target development and diagnostics
• Laboratory astrophysics
• Additional research areas available at: https://mipse.umich.edu/about.php

Program Overview: The Laser Plasma Laboratory offers summer research for 1–2 students in laser-produced plasmas and their interaction with matter. Students work on experimental and computational projects in plasma physics, high-power laser dynamics, and materials behavior under extreme conditions. Research supports high-energy-density physics, fusion science, and advanced materials development. Funding is anticipated via NSF or DOE grants.

Mentorship and Team: The laboratory anticipates 2–3 mentors and expects to host 1–2 students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Materials synthesis for extreme environments, including High-Entropy Alloys (HEAs) using plasma- or laser-driven non-equilibrium processing.
• Characterization of material properties with advanced diagnostics and microstructural analysis.
• Modeling laser-produced plasmas under various ambient conditions.
• Study of plasma interactions with materials relevant to fusion and energy applications.

Program Overview: The High-Energy Density Science (HEDS) Division at SLAC explores warm dense matter, shocks, and intense laser-plasma interactions in the relativistic regime. Students will gain hands-on experience with high-energy nanosecond and short-pulse lasers, x-ray sources, and advanced diagnostic and simulation techniques. Current research includes critical developments for inertial fusion energy, such as wetted foam investigations using DOE light sources.

Mentorship and Team: The HEDS Division has three mentors available for IFE-SURE students and expects to host 2–3 students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• DFT analysis of dense IFE hydrogen plasma properties.
• PIC simulations of relativistic laser-plasma interaction experiments.
• Static foam metrology and SLAC cuvette design studies for lock-load cryogenic wetted foam targets.
• Assistance with IFE target injector engineering, design, and data collection in the bunker.
• Dynamic foam image analysis.

Program Overview: The Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University is a nationally recognized leader in quantum optics and laser physics. As a member of the DOE IFE-STAR RISE hub, the institute offers cutting-edge facilities including advanced laser laboratories and more than 10,000 square feet of experimental space. The program will host two undergraduates for a 10-week summer appointment, one focusing on experimental research and the other on theory and modeling. Students receive stipends to support living costs in College Station.

Mentorship and Team: Five faculty, three senior researchers, and four graduate students will mentor two undergraduates.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Gas laser experiments: investigating photoexcitation processes and emission spectra to improve pumping efficiency for IFE-relevant systems.
• Experimental studies of stochastic modulation instability in nonlinear systems, including soliton propagation in photonic crystal fibers.
• Theory and modeling of KrF laser scaling and stochastic laser-beam instability dynamics.
• Application of statistical methods to extreme event modeling in high-power laser systems.

Program Overview: Students will participate in a 9–10 week summer program hosted by either the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department or the Propulsion Research Center. The program spans plasma science topics including space science, solar physics, low-temperature plasmas, magnetic reconnection, laser ablation, and space propulsion. Research is funded by NSF, DOE, and NASA.

Mentorship and Team: Two mentors are available, and one IFE-SURE student can be hosted if funding is provided.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Study of laser plasma expansion into different magnetic field topologies for applications to magnetic nozzles for pulsed fusion propulsion using spectroscopy, B-dot probes, and Langmuir probes.
• Torsional magnetic reconnection experiments to detect and characterize reconnection events.
• Interaction of coaxial plasma gun–produced jets with laser plasma targets.

Program Overview: The Plasma and Quantum Group (PQG) studies how large magnetic fields influence laser-plasma interactions (LPIs) in inertial fusion plasmas. Combining theory, simulation, and experiments, the group investigates magnetized laser-driven fusion implosions (MagLPIs). PQG collaborates with LLNL and LLE, and with funding support, can host 1–2 IFE-SURE students each summer.

Mentorship and Team: The team includes 1 professor, 1 postdoc, and 4 graduate students, all available to mentor IFE-SURE students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Simulation of magnetized laser-plasma interactions using particle-in-cell codes (EPOCH) to study processes such as magnetized crossbeam energy transfer, Raman scattering, Brillouin scattering, and two-plasmon decay.
• Experimental analysis of MagLPIs, including diagnostic data from OMEGA laser experiments and design of new experiments (e.g., laser-drive coils and fiber-optic diagnostics).

Program Overview: This project will be hosted by Prof. Derek Schaeffer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UCLA. Up to one student may be supported for up to 10 weeks during the summer, with funding provided by a combination of DOE grants and departmental support. The research is primarily funded by the DOE and NNSA and involves experimental work conducted on large national laboratory facilities, including the National Ignition Facility (LLNL), the Z Machine (SNL), and the OMEGA Laser Facility at the University of Rochester.

Mentorship and Team: Prof. Schaeffer will serve as the primary mentor, with additional support from graduate students. Up to one student will be hosted.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Analysis of proton imaging data from laser-driven shock experiments on the OMEGA EP laser
• Learning and applying the principles of proton imaging and Lorentz-force–driven field deflection
• Reconstructing electromagnetic field structures from proton radiography data
• (If time permits) Analysis of complementary diagnostics such as Thomson scattering, x-ray spectroscopy, or refractive imaging

Program Overview: The High Energy Density (HED) group at UC San Diego investigates laser–plasma interactions using a range of advanced laser systems and diagnostics. The laboratory features both short-pulse (30 mJ, 30 fs) and long-pulse (30 J, 5–10 ns; 10 J, 10 ns) lasers, with configurable pulse shapes and state-of-the-art diagnostics. Students will explore laser-driven plasma behavior and develop analysis techniques for high-energy-density experiments.

Mentorship and Team: Two mentors are available, and the group can host two IFE-SURE students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Measurement of density and temperature in ablated plasmas using interferometry and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectroscopy.
• Data analysis using specialized software for plasma diagnostic interpretation.
• Investigation of how laser pulse shape affects temperature and density evolution in plasmas.

Program Overview: The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln hosts undergraduates in the Laser-Assisted Nano Engineering (LANE) Lab. The program focuses on advanced laser fabrication techniques for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) fuel targets. Students gain experience with two-photon polymerization (2PP) nanofabrication, which enables the creation of microscale architectures essential for achieving uniform fuel compression. They also learn to apply Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) spectroscopy for isotopic analysis. The lab provides students with access to femtosecond laser systems and advanced materials processing facilities.

Mentorship and Team: Four mentors will support up to four students.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects:

• Development of 2PP-fabricated foam capsules and log-pile structures for ICF experiments, optimized for high porosity and structural stability.
• Application of CARS spectroscopy to map deuterium–tritium isotope distribution at sub-micron resolution.
• Exploration of high-density carbon synthesis to create robust targets for high-energy-density (HED) physics.

Program Overview: The Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) runs a 10-week summer program that immerses approximately 80 undergraduates in plasma physics, optics, lasers, materials science, and computational modeling. Of these, about 20 students engage in fusion-related research. Students work within LLE’s research divisions alongside scientists, engineers, and graduate students, gaining both technical training and exposure to large-scale scientific facilities. Participants receive stipends, and many receive housing assistance.

Mentorship and Team: Approximately 20 mentors support 20 students participating in the IFE-SURE program.

Research Focus Areas / Example Projects: Students contribute to the Inertial Fusion Energy–Consortium on Laser–Plasma Interaction Research (IFE-COLoR) hub and other initiatives advancing direct-drive fusion. Research areas include:

• Laser–plasma interaction physics
• Optics
• High-energy-density physics
• Materials science for fusion targets
• Students also gain experience with large-scale experimental systems and computational modeling tools, preparing them for careers in science, engineering, or advanced study.