Basics of laser fusion

Focus:	Talents
Type of funding:	Individual funding programmes
Programme:	CZS research boost
Funded institution:	Bingen Technical University of Applied Sciences

Prof. Florian Wasser, Professor of Physics, Engineering Fundamentals and Sensor Technology in Electrical Engineering at the TH Bingen, is researching the physical foundations for the development of fusion power plants for sustainable and CO2-free energy generation.

Goals

One of the greatest challenges of our time is to secure the global energy supply in the face of climate change. The increasing demand for energy due to the growing world population cannot be met in the long term by renewable energies alone. One promising approach is nuclear fusion, which can release large amounts of energy in a climate-neutral way by mimicking the sun's energy production.

in 2022, scientists in the USA succeeded for the first time in generating energy through controlled nuclear fusion using high-power lasers. Since then, international start-ups have been looking to implement this technology in commercial fusion power plants.

One major technical challenge is laser plasma instability (LPI), which impairs the efficiency of the lasers during the fusion process. Although theoretical studies suggest methods for suppressing these instabilities, experimental proof is still lacking.

The project will experimentally test methods to reduce LPI. International experiments are planned at leading laser facilities in Germany and the Czech Republic, as part of a collaboration with partners from several countries and industrial partners. In the long term, the project aims to drive forward the development of energy-efficient and CO₂-free fusion power plants.