The world’s largest privately owned laser just turned on

On Wednesday, Xcimer Energy, a fusion startup, activated its impressive Phoenix laser system, which it claims is the largest privately owned laser of its kind globally. This advancement is pivotal as Xcimer's fusion approach draws inspiration from the National Ignition Facility (NIF), which demonstrated in December 2022 that a controlled fusion reaction can generate more power than what is needed to initiate it. The NIF achieved this by directing 192 laser beams onto a fuel target no larger than a pencil eraser. The lasers, aimed at a gold target, unleash energy that transforms into X-rays. These X-rays are then concentrated on a small fuel pellet, compressing it to the point where atomic fusion occurs, releasing energy in the process. Xcimer aims to enhance this concept by employing more robust and streamlined lasers that could potentially yield a profitable fusion power solution. The company envisions a fusion power plant featuring two lasers capable of delivering rapid-fire microsecond-long pulses. This light will be processed through a compression mechanism designed to channel the laser energy to the fuel target within nanoseconds; the faster the compression, the higher the chances of achieving effective fusion reactions. The activation of the Phoenix laser marks a significant milestone toward the eventual establishment of a fusion power plant. Utilizing excimer amplification—similar to techniques found in semiconductor manufacturing—this system is notably more powerful. At its peak, the krypton-fluoride laser is reported to produce over 1 kilojoule of energy, with a core measuring 38 meters in length. Despite being the most potent privately owned laser currently, it still falls short of the energy output necessary for a commercial power plant, which Xcimer estimates could surpass 12 megajoules. The company has set ambitious goals, aiming to finalize a prototype by 2028, followed by the development of a larger system targeted to generate at least as much energy as it consumes. Looking ahead to the mid-2030s, Xcimer plans to construct its inaugural commercial-scale power plant.