National Ignition Facility Fails to Ignite

Oct. 8, 2012 – Article by New York Times, Photos by Steven B. Krivit –

The world’s most energetic laser has failed to meet its latest deadline for achieving ignition, the New York Times reports.

Source: New York Times

After spending more than $5 billion to build and operate a giant laser installation the size of a football stadium, the Energy Department has not achieved its goal of igniting a fusion reaction that could produce energy to generate power or simulate what happens in a nuclear weapon.

The latest deadline for achieving ignition was last Sunday, Sept. 30, the end of fiscal year 2012, but it passed amid mounting concerns that the technical challenges were too great to be mastered on a tight time schedule.

Congress will need to look hard at whether the project should be continued, or scrapped or slowed to help reduce federal spending.

Story Continues Here

Here are some photos I shot of NIF during a tour last year. Click each one to see larger versions.

Outside the NIF Building. Photo credit: S.B. Krivit

World’s most powerful computers and most energetic laser. Photo credit: S.B. Krivit

Looking down on the laser array. Photo credit: S.B. Krivit

Where the lasers enter the ignition chamber. Photo credit: S.B. Krivit

Tour group looking up at the laser array. Photo credit: S.B. Krivit