Powering the Future: Five things you should know about fusion energy at the University of Arizona
Before each experiment, a positioner precisely centers the target inside the target chamber and serves as a reference to align the laser beams.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The University of Arizona is looking to the stars to become a leader in the effort to deliver a safe, sustainable and abundant energy source on Earth. Fusion energy could redefine how we power our lives, and the U of A is taking a leadership role in this transformative industry.
To lead this ambitious effort, the university recruited Horst Hahn, a renowned materials scientist who previously directed Institute of Nanotechnology in Karlsruhe, Germany, joined the university in March as a special advisor to Senior Vice President of Research and Partnerships, Tomás Díaz de la Rubia.
"Dr. Hahn's leadership will be instrumental in uniting diverse disciplines and forging strategic partnerships to advance our fusion energy efforts," said Díaz de la Rubia. "His vision reflects our commitment to convergence and bold approaches to solving global energy challenges."
LQP spoke with Hahn about what fusion energy is and how it can be a game-changer for the university, the state and the world.
Horst Hahn
Leslie Hawthorne Klingler
Five things you should know about fusion energy
1. Fusion is the process that powers the sun and other stars – and it can power the Earth too.
At its core, fusion means bringing different things together. In energy terms, it means the fusion of light atomic nuclei – typically hydrogen – to form helium and release enormous energy, Hahn explained. This is the fusion reaction that powers the sun, possible at the extremely high temperatures and pressures in the core due to the gravitational forces.
On Earth, scientists are working to recreate the process using the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium.
2. Fusion energy is clean, safe and virtually limitless – but difficult to achieve.
Fusion offers a reliable, carbon-free and virtually limitless energy source with minimal environmental impact and intrinsic safety, as the process does not involve the risk of runaway reactions or long-lived radioactive waste. However, replicating the conditions needed for fusion on Earth is no small task. Fusion of deuterium and tritium requires temperatures of around 100 million degrees. Two main directions to achieve fusion conditions, magnetic confinement and inertial confinement fusion, are being pursued by many countries and through international collaboration, with significant contributions from both public research institutions and innovative industrial startups.
"Inertial confinement fusion has demonstrated net energy gain, with fusion output surpassing the laser input, confirming the underlying physics" Hahn said. " However, significant technical and engineering challenges remain on the path to realizing a functional fusion power plant. The complexity is non-trivial, requiring simultaneous advances in materials science, energy systems, optics, control technologies, and more.
The Office of Research and Partnerships has created a video explaining the process.
3. The U of A is exploring laser technology to spark fusion.
To tackle these challenges, the university is pursuing a laser-driven approach to create the conditions necessary for fusion. This method closely resembles the one used at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where the major breakthrough of first time net energy gain was achieved in December 2022.
"In this approach, high-power lasers compress and heat a small pellet of deuterium and tritium fuel to trigger fusion," Hahn said. "It's a safe, controllable process. We saw the state-of-the-art technology in action when Tomás led a delegation to the National Ignition Facility in May. It gave us a clearer picture of the infrastructure required to support fusion and reinforced how well-positioned the University of Arizona is to lead in this area."
While the university does not plan to build a fusion reactor, Hahn aims to establish the capability to simulate fusion processes, enabling researchers to study material behavior under extreme conditions and to develop technological solutions to the most pressing challenges on the path to a functional reactor.
4. University talent will drive the next breakthrough in fusion energy.
Bringing fusion to life will require expertise from across campus. Hahn has already met with university faculty and staff from the College of Engineering, the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences and the College of Science to tap into their research strengths in areas like radiation-resistant materials, laser reliability and efficient fuel systems. Faculty, staff and doctoral students will collaborate on interdisciplinary research to explore fusion energy commercialization.
The university delegation to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in May included (from left) Barrett Potter, Krishna Muralidharan, Sammy Tin, David Hahn, Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, Horst Hahn, Kim Patten, Pavel Polynkin and Jeffrey Kingsley.
"We're well positioned to tackle the engineering problems that will define whether fusion works at scale," Hahn said. "This is where we can lead – not in building reactors, but in solving problems and making reactors viable."
The university also plans to develop specialized courses on fusion for undergraduate and graduate students as part of a program to train future industry workers and to give students opportunities to contribute to groundbreaking research.
"This will be an interdisciplinary program that combines science, engineering and strategic partnerships to solve one of society's greatest energy challenges," Hahn said.
5. The U of A is engaging in partnerships to create a hub for fusion energy in Arizona.
In his role, Hahn will build partnerships with industry and government to create a hub for fusion energy in the region.
"Fusion energy is a chance to grow Arizona's economy, train the next generation and attract cutting-edge companies to our region," Hahn said. "This is a very attractive challenge with new science and new technologies."
The target chamber under construction at the National Ignition Facillity. Holes in the target chamber provide access for the laser beams and viewing ports for NIF diagnostic equipment.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The university is already building these collaborations through partnerships with local companies that could help fuel a broader ambition to establish a National Fusion Technology Center in Arizona and create high-tech jobs in the region and strengthen the state's position as a center for innovation.
In an op-ed in The Hill in April, President Suresh Garimella and Díaz de la Rubia emphasized the enormous potential impact of fusion energy for the state.
"In our home state of Arizona, energy abundance produced by fusion would offer a solution to the looming issue of water scarcity and serve as a catalyst for the AI industry's growing energy demands," they wrote.
More Information
The push to develop fusion energy solutions is part of a larger research strategy at the university, backed by a $20 million investment from the Arizona Board of Regents which includes three other strategic research initiatives: artificial intelligence-driven health care innovation; the future of sustainable mining and critical materials; and space and national security. The Office of Research and Partnerships has developed a website containing information on each of the initiatives.
The four initiatives are a central component of Research that Shapes the Future, one of the university's strategic imperatives outlined in Delivering on Our Promise.
National Ignition Facility Target Area operators inspect a final optics assembly during a routine maintenance period.
Photo by: Jason Laurea, Courtesy of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Learn more:
- Garimella and Díaz de la Rubia op-ed: "Fusion must be a national priority for the future of U.S. energy security"
- The Promise of Fusion Energy
- UANews Story: "Horst Hahn joins U of A as special advisor for fusion energy commercialization"