How do you measure what can't be seen? In the medical field, this is routine. Thermometers check temperatures and X-rays can show broken bones. But what if you are trying to measure something hotter than the center of the sun that vanishes in 100 trillionths of a second? What if it's an experiment on Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF)? "We can't just stick a thermometer in our experiment because it's 200 million degrees. We can't use an X-ray machine because it's 50 times denser than lead," said experimental physicist Dave Schlossberg. "We had to
Fusion Energy#Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory#Engineering#High-Energy-Density Science#Lasers and Optical S&T#National Ignition Facility and Photon Science#Physical and Life Sciences#Physics#Top Story
Technology & InnovationLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Astronomers can't see dark matter directly, but know it's there: its gravity shapes galaxies and the large-scale structure of the cosmos. In an effort to uncover the composition of this hidden mass, a team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is pursuing evidence of these particles that exist beyond the standard model of physics. In a new experimental campaign called Magnetometry for Neutrino physics (Magneto-ν), scientists at LLNL are searching for the sterile neutrino using nuclear beta decays of plutonium-241. This hypothetical neutrino species is significantly heavier than
Technology & Innovation#Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory#Laboratory Directed Research and Development#Nuclear#Chem#and Isotopic S&T#Physical and Life Sciences#Top Story#advanced materials
Technology & InnovationLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have found that implosions designed for inertial fusion energy (IFE) can tolerate significant imperfections before performance abruptly declines, a finding that could inform the design of fuel targets for future fusion power plants. The findings were detailed in a paper titled "Robustness of inertial fusion energy relevant implosions to low-mode asymmetries," published recently in Physics of Plasmas and selected for the journal's cover. The study was led by LLNL physicist Timothy Johnson, who directed the research and analysis
Fusion Energy#Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory#Energy#High-Energy-Density Science#HPC#Simulation#and Data Science#National Ignition Facility and Photon Science#Top Story
Technology & InnovationLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The Livermore Lab Foundation (LLF) recently convened supporters, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) leaders, partners and community members to celebrate 10 years of philanthropic impact. The event recognized a decade dedicated to unlocking scientific potential, advancing groundbreaking research and inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders. "Ten years ago, we set out with a vision to connect philanthropic investments with cutting-edge scientific innovation," said LLF Board Chair Dona Crawford. "[This event] isn't just a milestone on a calendar; it's a reflection of what
