Accelerating Workforce Development for Inertial Fusion Energy

While the National Ignition Facility (NIF) has demonstrated the physics principles of ignition, marking a critical milestone toward fusion energy, improvements both on NIF scales and the transition from experimental facilities to commercial-scale power plants will require a significant expansion of the workforce, with estimates suggesting tens of thousands of skilled professionals will be needed by the 2040–2050 timeframe. This workforce must encompass expertise in optical, nuclear, and systems engineering, as well as high-energy-density physics (HEDP), to address the unique challenges of IFE power plant development.



LLNL is capitalizing on the explosion of interest since ignition by targeting students from high school to post-graduate levels, non-academic professionals, and the general public. Initial programs extend significant Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) efforts targeting several primary aspects of IFE plant design including laser drivers, target fabrication, and materials studies for chamber and blankets. Efforts connecting IFE plant design work and HED research interests will be discussed.