Bavarian Minister of Science Markus Blume has officially opened the new laser experiment chamber “LION 2” at the Center for Advanced Laser Applications. CALA now has one of the world's most powerful facilities for research into laser-based nuclear fusion.
The expanded research facility marks a milestone in the 2022 research collaboration between LMU and Munich-based laser fusion pioneer Marvel Fusion for research into laser-based fusion energy. The Free State of Bavaria is funding the completed expansion of the laser center with 2.5 million euros as part of the “Future Strategy for Research and Innovation”.
Since 2022, LMU and Marvel Fusion have been jointly conducting experiments at CALA to research and commercialize laser-based nuclear fusion. The new experimental chamber "LION 2" now enables previously unfeasible experiments on laser-matter interaction and high-field ion acceleration.
In the coalition agreement, the German government commits to expanding funding for fusion research, including through milestone-based funding programs. At the same time, the Bavarian state government is driving the topic forward with its “Nuclear Fusion Master Plan”: the state is investing around 100 million euros in research, new professorships and the establishment of a Bavarian fusion ecosystem. The new experimental chamber at CALA is an important building block in the laser-based branch of this strategy.
In the image (from left to right): Markus Blume (Bavarian Minister of Science and the Arts), Moritz von der Linden (CEO, Marvel, Heike Freund (COO, Marvel) and Prof. Jörg Schreiber (LMU)
Picture:© Thorsten Naeser
