News: Optoelectronics
20 September 2024
Blue Laser Fusion wins US DOE INFUSE project award
Blue Laser Fusion Inc (BLF) of Santa Barbara, CA, USA has won a US Department of Energy (DOE) INFUSE project award to develop a novel high-energy pulsed laser for inertial fusion energy applications in collaboration with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The project focuses on high energy pulsed laser amplification using an optical enhancement cavity (OEC) to generate the high pulse energy and fast repetition rates required for high gain, efficient fusion energy generation, says the firm.
Funded by the DOE, the work leverages the expertise of Caltech, specifically the Adhikari Research Group led by Professor Rana Adhikari, a world leader in experimental gravitational physics and OEC lasers for LIGO. The project was awarded as part of the DOE's Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) initiative, which awarded $4.6m to private public collaborations in 2024 to accelerate the development of cost-effective, innovative fusion energy technologies in the private sector. The DOE INFUSE program's overarching objective is to ensure US energy, environmental & security needs.
Dr Shuji Nakamura, CEO of Blue Laser Fusion, said, "We are proud to announce this DOE INFUSE project award and our special collaboration with Caltech as we work to accelerate the commercialization of laser-based fusion energy. By cooperating with Caltech, Blue Laser Fusion will have access to world-class expertise and capabilities to advance our OEC laser innovations."
Blue Laser Fusion was founded in 2022 by Dr Shuji Nakamura, 2014 Nobel Laureate in Physics and solid-state lighting pioneer, whose high efficiency LED lighting inventions have helped transform the world by substantially reducing the global energy power consumption. BLF's technology innovations include a high efficiency, cost effective megajoule class pulse energy laser with a fast repetition rate, coupled with a high gain, low-cost solid fuel target to achieve commercial fusion. The company has a comprehensive IP portfolio with more than 50 patents and applications internationally. Technical areas of IP protection and innovation competence include multiple levels of the value chain such as optical enhancement cavity (OEC) lasers, fuel targets and energy and fusion systems.
https://infuse.ornl.gov/awards/high-energy-pulsed-laser-amplification-using-optical-enhancement-cavities/
