An artist’s rendering of the new laser research facility located on the Foothills campus and scheduled for completion in 2026. The main research topic at this facility is laser-driven fusion as a viable clean energy source. (Rendering courtesy of Colorado State University)
Josh Roten Colorado State University Source
Construction activity will begin this month on a powerful new laser research facility on Colorado State University’s Foothills campus. Scheduled to be operational in mid-2026, the facility will leverage 40 years of laser development research at CSU in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science’s Fusion Energy Science Program and a $150 million strategic public-private partnership. It is a collective effort. Partner with industry leader Marvel Fusion, launching in 2023.
The new building will be known as the Advanced Technology Laser for Applied Science (ATLAS) facility. A major research topic is laser-driven fusion as a viable clean energy source. CSU President Amy Parsons hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the facility last week, with comments from U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science and Innovation Geraldine Richmond, Congressman Joe Neguse, Marvell Fusion CEO Moritz von der Linden, and others. was also included. CSU leaders.
Geraldine Richmond, DOE’s Under Secretary for Science and Innovation, spoke at the Advanced Technology Laser for Applied Science (ATLAS) facility groundbreaking event. (Photo provided by Colorado State University)
Fusion energy is a form of electricity generation that aims to replicate the process that powers the sun by fusing atomic nuclei. If successful, laser-driven fusion energy promises to safely produce virtually unlimited, sustainable, carbon-free energy. Once completed, the facility will feature upgraded versions of existing ultra-high-power lasers developed at CSU in combination with two new lasers provided by Marvell Fusion. The new building will be located near an existing building dedicated to laser research and will house related laboratories and offices. Taken together, this project will significantly expand the university’s space and capabilities.
The ATLAS facility will be a unique cluster of high-intensity, high-repetition-rate lasers that can be configured to fire simultaneously at a single fusion target. This burst would deliver nearly 7 petawatts of power, more than 5,000 times the power generation capacity of the United States, to a focal point roughly the width of a human hair for about a quintillionth of a second. The three ultra-high-power lasers can also be used alone or in other combinations to study problems beyond fusion energy, including important topics in basic research.
Parsons said the university has been at the forefront of laser research for many years, and this facility will support leadership in this field in many more areas in the future.
“As a recognized top institution for both research and sustainability, CSU is the perfect home for this facility,” Professor Parsons said. “We have been a leader in laser research for decades, and our faculty are advancing important technology. This new facility will house one of the most powerful lasers in the world and will We will establish it as a base for laser fusion research.”
Beyond fusion and basic science research, the ATLAS facility will also support interdisciplinary research on topics such as medicine, where lasers can be used to inject energy into very localized areas for tumor treatment. is. Other research possibilities at the facility include microchip lithography and design, as well as detailed X-ray imaging of fast-moving objects, such as the engines and turbines of airplanes operating at full speed. The facility will also support a wide range of basic science research.
The existing and new facilities will now be collectively known as the Advanced Laser for Extreme Photonics (ALEPH) Center.
In his comments at the event, Under Secretary Richmond highlighted the extensive partnership between DOE and CSU on laser research, particularly through the Fusion Energy Science Program. The agency recently awarded $12.5 million to the university through its LaserNetUS program, in addition to a separate award of $16 million to launch an inertial fusion science and technology hub. These grants will support research using existing facilities on campus, including upgrades to the high-power ALEPH laser. DOE funding also provides free access to research facilities for outside researchers, whether they are working on fusion or other topics, supporting work across many important fields. Masu.
“We are excited about the important research that will be conducted through this public-private partnership with Marvel Fusion at Colorado State University,” said Professor Richmond. “We want to take advantage of these opportunities proactively. Laser development and experimentation fits with our long-term goal of reaching fusion energy, but just as importantly, It’s about uncovering what you’ll learn in this process that will help you achieve that goal.”
From left: CSU President Amy Parsons, DOE Under Secretary for Science and Innovation Geraldine Richmond, and CSU Vice Chancellor Cassandra Moseley speaking after the event.
CSU’s leadership in laser research is largely due to the work of the university’s Distinguished Professors, Professors Jorge Rocca and Carmen Menoni. Both are in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mr. Rocca is also in the Department of Physics, and Mr. Menoni is also in the Department of Chemistry. The two have led interdisciplinary research on this topic at the university for many years. Cassandra Moseley, CSU’s vice president for research, said the existing fruitful research partnership with Marvell Fusion was a key reason the company chose to further invest in the university with this project.
“CSU is a leader in laser research and technology, which led us to break ground on a building that will take that impactful research to the next level,” said Moseley, who also spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony. Ta. “Today we excitedly celebrate the research power and discoveries that will occur at this facility, along with the scientists on the team that helped us reach this point.”
Allen Robinson, dean of the Walter Scott Jr. School of Engineering, echoed similar sentiments, calling the new facility a significant step forward for the university in terms of entrepreneurship.
“We are extremely proud of Professor Rocca and Professor Menoni’s decades of success culminating in the construction of this world-class facility,” Professor Robinson said. “This partnership between industry and CSU STRATA is a natural extension of the culture of entrepreneurship and technology transfer that pervades the university and CSU.”
Robinson added that the rapid growth of laser-based research around the world has created a significant unmet need to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers and suppliers within the fusion industry. . He said this new facility will address that need by providing both CSU undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the latest technology, and support the development of talent in important STEM fields. He said it fulfills the university’s commitment as a land-grant institution.
Heike Freund, Marvel Fusion’s chief operating officer, said the company is excited to continue partnering with CSU in this area of research.
“This milestone marks an exciting new chapter in the partnership between Marvell Fusion and Colorado State University as we move forward with construction of a facility that will advance the future of fusion energy,” Freund said. . “Fusion energy has the potential to revolutionize approaches to sustainable power and provide a virtually limitless source of clean energy. This partnership will put CSU and MF at the forefront of cutting-edge research. , paving the way for transformative advances that can redefine global energy solutions.”
Construction of the project will be managed by Tetrad Corporation, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. will serve as the general contractor and SWBR will lead the design. The 71,000-square-foot facility includes more than 7,500 cubic yards of concrete and includes a 5-foot-thick shielding wall around the target bay and a 3-foot-thick slab for vibration isolation below the laser and target bays. Included. The lab space is equipped with a clean room up to ISO 6/Class 1,000, and the HVAC system maintains extremely tight temperature and humidity tolerances to maintain proper functioning of the laser system.
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