Two employees in protective clothing inside a research laser

IDS case study: Precisely positioned, efficiently experimented

11/7/2024

Research and development of laser-based nuclear fusion in favor of a climate-friendly energy supply

Nuclear fusion is seen as a visionary solution to the energy problems of the future - without releasing CO2. Small atomic nuclei are fused at extreme temperatures instead of being split as in the reactors of conventional nuclear power plants. The idea of using nuclear fusion to generate large amounts of energy in a climate-neutral way is considered a dream of mankind. However, nuclear fusion is technically extremely challenging and its realization requires immense investment as well as ambitious research and development.

The deep-tech company Marvel Fusion is pursuing this dream - with the aim of building the first commercially viable nuclear fusion power plant. The German start-up is developing a novel laser-based approach that can produce CO2-free, clean and safe electricity. In cooperation with the Colorado State University, the world's first customized laser system for researching commercial nuclear fusion is to be created. The corresponding basic research is being conducted in Munich and Bucharest - up to 20 IDS cameras are being used simultaneously to monitor and control the experiments in the high-vacuum chambers there.