Materials Science Division

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.

A tiny fuel capsule suspended inside a hohlraum.

In the news

Our research areas

NIF target assembly.

Our research areas include:

  • Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition systems
  • Physical vapor deposition systems
  • X-ray tomography systems
  • Cryogenic experimental systems

Our team

Leadership

Bhandarkar, Suhas D.
Suhas Bhandarkar
Biener, Monika M.
Horwood, Corie

Group members

Baxamusa, Salmaan H.
Catarineu, Noelle
Choate, Chris
Chris Choate
Hayes, Sean Michael
Sean Hayes
Holunga, Dean M.
Dean Holunga
Kim, Sung Ho
Lepro Chavez, Xavier Norberto
Liberatore, Chris
Chris Liberatore
Malone, Daniel Ray
Daniel Malone
Mercer, Korey James
Korey Mercer
Murphy, Anna Marie
Anna Murphy
Prisk, Timothy Raymond
Timothy Prisk
Rivadeneira Velasco, Katherine Elena
Katherine Rivadeneira Rivadeneira Velasco
Schwartz, Alexander James
Alexander Schwartz
Sharma, Montu
Montu Sharma
Sohngen, Liam Robert
Liam Sohngen
Wallace, Russell J.
Russell Wallace
Wray, Andrew
Andrew Wray

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