Materials Science Division
NIF Target Materials Group
- Home
- Research and Development
- Materials Science
- NIF Target Materials Group
Developing and bringing targeted materials-based designs, processing, and characterization techniques to fruition so the ensuing targets can be reliably fielded in large facilities such as the National Ignition Facility (NIF).
The NIF Target Materials Group focuses on solving hard problems and developing new and innovative technologies. Targets for the NIF are exquisite and complicated marvels in tiny packages, especially the ones that lead to ignition. Each target is designed, fabricated, and assembled with extreme precision, with many components machined to a 1000th of a human hair. We solve complex materials and engineering challenges to continue advancing the state of the art on experiments on NIF in the age of ignition.
Our vision is to continually enable realization of diverse ideas in high-energy-density and inertial fusion confinement science to keep LLNL at the forefront of research in this field.
Our thrust areas include:
- Materials science and engineering for use in extreme conditions
- Chemical engineering-based process innovation and modeling
- Cryogenics and tritium science
- Metrology and characterization
- Chemistry, such as electrochemistry, organic, analytical, foams
- Process engineering
- Viscoelastic materials and adhesives
We encourage teamwork, fast cadence, and high-quality, delivery-date driven work.

In the news
Our research areas

Our research areas include:
- Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition systems
- Physical vapor deposition systems
- X-ray tomography systems
- Cryogenic experimental systems
Our team
Group members














Select publications
Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment
Phys. Rev. Lett., 2024
H. Abu-Shawareb et al.
Detecting anomalous motions in ultraprecision shell-polishing process combining unsupervised spectral-band identification and Explainable-AI
Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 2024
S. Galla, A. Tiwari, S. C. Nalband, S. M. Hayes, S. Bhandarkar, S. Bukkapatnam
Observations and properties of the first laboratory fusion experiment to exceed a target gain of unity
Phys. Rev. E, 2024
A. Pak et al.
Analysis of Dynamic Behavior of the Target and the Deuterium-Tritium Ice in Magnetic-Field Assisted Implosions
Fusion Science and Technology, 2023
S. Bhandarkar, B. J. Kozioziemski, J. D. Sater, L. B. Hagler, J. D. Moody
Confirmation and Quantification of Gas Flow into Capsules
Fusion Science and Technology, 2023
M. Aggleton, S. Bhandarkar, A. Nikroo
Measuring and simulating ice–ablator mix in inertial confinement fusion
Phys. Plasmas, 2023
B. Bachmann et al.
Performance scaling with an applied magnetic field in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion implosions
Phys. Plasmas, 2023
H. Sio et al.
Preparation of Macroscopic Low-Density Gold Foams with Good Machinability
Fusion Science and Technology, 2023
S. H. Kim, S. J. Shin, S. D. Bhandarkar, T. F. Baumann
Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion
Nature, 2022
A. B. Zylstra et al.
Chapter Eleven - Ionic liquids as electrolytes for electrochemistry
Ionic Liquids in Analytical Chemistry, 2022
C. Horwood
Design of an inertial fusion experiment exceeding the Lawson criterion for ignition
Phys. Rev. E, 2022
A. L. Kritcher et al.
Increased Ion Temperature and Neutron Yield Observed in Magnetized Indirectly Driven D2-Filled Capsule Implosions on the National Ignition Facility
Phys. Rev. Lett., 2022
J. D. Moody et al.
Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment
Phys. Rev. Lett., 2022
H. Abu-Shawareb et al.
The Magnetized Indirect Drive Project on the National Ignition Facility
Journal of Fusion Energy, 2022
J. D. Moody et al.
Achieving record hot spot energies with large HDC implosions on NIF in HYBRID-E
Phys. Plasmas, 2021
A. L. Kritcher et al.
Fabrication of Low-Density Foam Liners in Hohlraums for NIF Targets
Fusion Science and Technology, 2018
S. Bhandarkar, T. Baumann, N. Alfonso, C. Thomas, K. Baker, A. Moore, C. Larson, D. Bennett, J. Sain, A. Nikroo
Platinum Electrodeposition for Supported ALD Templated Foam Hohlraum Liners
Fusion Science and Technology, 2018
C. Horwood, M. Stadermann, M. Biener, D. Bennett, S. Bhandarkar, T. L. Bunn
Prevention of Residual Gas Condensation on the Laser Entry Hole Windows on Cryogenic NIF Targets Using a Protective Warm Film
Fusion Science and Technology, 2018
S. Bhandarkar, J. Fair, B. Haid, E. Mapoles, J. Atherton, C. Thomas, J. Moody, J. Kroll, A. Nikroo
Symmetry control of an indirectly driven high-density-carbon implosion at high convergence and high velocity
Phys. Plasmas, 2017
L. Divol et al.
Understanding the Critical Parameters of the PAMS Mandrel Fabrication Process
Fusion Science and Technology, 2017
S. Bhandarkar, R. Paguio, F. Elsner, D. Hoover, A. Nikroo, C. Guido
Constitutive Models for the Viscoelastic Behavior of Polyimide Membranes at Room and Deep Cryogenic Temperatures
Fusion Science and Technology, 2017
S. Bhandarkar, J. Betcher, R. Smith, B. Lairson, T. Ayers
Importance of limiting hohlraum leaks at cryogenic temperatures on NIF targets
High Power Laser Science and Engineering, 2017
S. Bhandarkar, N. Teslich, B. Haid, and E. Mapoles
Novel Strategies to Remove Particulate Contamination from Ablator Capsule Surface
Fusion Science and Technology, 2017
S. Bhandarkar, J. Reynolds, S. Letts, S. Baxamusa, E. Lindsey
A Solvent Cleaning Process for the Outer Surface of Plastic ICF Capsules
Fusion Science and Technology, 2017
S. H. Baxamusa, S. D. Bhandarkar, J. L. Reynolds, B. Maranville, J. Horner, D. C. Mason, C. L. Heinbockel, N. A. Antipa, A. D. Conder
Hydrodynamic instability measurements in DT-layered ICF capsules using the layered-HGR platform
J. Phys.: Conf. Ser., 2016
C. Weber, T. Döppner, D. Casey, T. Bunn, L. Carlson, R. Dylla-Spears, B. Kozioziemski, A. G. MacPhee, J. Sater, A. Nikroo, H. Robey, and V. Smalyuk
Shock timing on the National Ignition Facility: First experiments
EPJ Web of Conferences, 2013
P.M. Celliers et al.