Research Initiatives

The IFE-STAR ecosystem, managed by the three IFE hubs, is a key initiative supported by the fusion energy sciences program. It unites academic institutions, national laboratories, private industry, and international partners to tackle fundamental challenges in inertial fusion science and technology. A central focus of the IFE-STAR ecosystem is fostering collaboration and developing a skilled workforce.

The STARFIRE Hub, led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), aims to enhance high-gain target designs, laser technologies, and workforce development through partnerships with top universities and institutions.

The Inertial Fusion Energy-Consortium on LPI Research (IFE-COLoR) Hub is led by the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). This hub aims to develop a broadband, direct-drive IFE laser system to address laser-plasma instabilities.

The Inertial Fusion Science and Technology hub, known as RISE, is based at Colorado State University. This initiative focuses on researching confinement schemes with drivers operating at 1 to 10 Hz, utilizing advanced krypton fluoride and diode-pumped solid-state lasers.

Funded through the Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing Center (SciDAC), this project, titled 'Kinetic IFE Simulations at Multiscale with Exascale Technologies,' focuses on developing novel algorithms to understand kinetic effects influencing IFE target implosions