U.S. Department of Energy approves Enhanced Yield Capability project for NIF

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/National Ignition Facility

The DOE approved the first stage of the Enhanced Yield Capability project, which aims to increase NIF's maximum laser energy from 2.2 megajoules to 2.6 megajoules. Improved laser power is expected to enable fusion yields exceeding 30 MJ, approaching the energy scales of thermonuclear weapons and providing data for stockpile stewardship.