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Overview

The Royal Society, with Dr Nick Hawker of First Light Fusion, is hosting this meeting to explore the possible research applications for a new UK capability for High Energy Density (HED) science. The meeting will take place at the Royal Society on Monday 28 November.

Background

The Royal Society is hosting this scientific meeting to explore the wider research and development (R&D) potential of a world-leading High Energy Density (HED) science capability. Having previously hosted meetings on prospects for high-gain inertial fusion energy, the Society is keen to further engage with the scientific community to understand how a pulsed power device as an R&D platform can further benefit the UK’s science and technology research needs.

First Light Fusion will build the world’s largest pulsed power driver for HED science as it progresses its inertial fusion programme. This high-voltage, fast current rise time machine will access multi Gbar regimes on millimetre-spatial-scale lengths, where fundamental science questions on lab-astrophysics, planetary science, materials, radiation, and nuclear fusion can be explored.

We are also keen to understand the more novel areas of research where this machine could provide value. The meeting will explore the potential benefits to UK science from access to this unique type of asset for a variety of R&D application areas. We will also explore how adjustments to machine specifications might facilitate or improve utility in specific application areas, and how access to such a facility would function in practical terms.

Attending this event

This meeting is intended for researchers in relevant fields, taking place online and at the Royal Society.

  • This will be a hybrid event
  • Attendance is invitation only
  • Advance registration is essential

For any enquiries or accessibility requirements, please email the Science Policy team.

Schedule

10:00-10:15
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speakers

10:15-10:35
What is the role for fusion? A BEIS perspective

Speakers

Professor Paul Monks BSc, DPhil, FRMetS, FRSC

Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy


Chair

10:35-11:15
First Light Fusion's new pulsed power facility and the opportunities for collaboration

Speakers

Dr Nick Hawker

FirstLightFusion

11:15-11:45
An overview of fundamental science of MAGPIE and the prospects for new scientific discovery on a larger scale UK pulsed power platform

Speakers

Professor Sergey Lebedev

Imperial College London

11:45-12:15
Pulsed power at Sandia National Laboratories and the Z fundamental science program

Speakers

Dr Dan Sinars

Sandia National Laboratories


Chair

Professor Jeremy Chittenden

Imperial College London

13:15-13:35
New science using a burning plasma

Speakers

13:35-13:55
Pulsed power machines as a tool for development of spectroscopic diagnostics for HED plasmas

Speakers

Professor Yitzhak Maron

Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

13:55-14:15
An overview of Laser Inertial Fusion Science and areas where HED pulsed power can contribute

Speakers

Dr Robbie Scott

Science and Technologies Facilities Council

14:15-14:35
The York Fusion Doctoral Training Centre interactions with external facilities

Speakers

14:35-14:55
How pulsed power has advanced our understanding of fundamental radiation and atomic physics

Speakers

Associate Professor Stephanie Hansen

Sandia National Laboratories

15:15-15:35
Defense relevant HED science

Speakers

Robert Lock

Atomic Weapons Establishment

15:35-15:55
First principles exploration of dense materials

Speakers

Professor Chris Pickard

Department of Material Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge


Chair


Chair

Dr Nick Hawker

FirstLightFusion