Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Digg
del.icio.us
reddit
Yahoo
Google
Slashdot
Technorati
Video Gallery
These narrated videos provide a look at the National Ignition Facility and some of its related programs in action. Using our Videos »
Stellar Gest
Poets often look to the stars, peering deep into the night sky for inspiration. But Livermore's new poet laureate, Charan Sue Wollard, has found stellar inspiration in an unusual place – the Lab's National Ignition Facility.
NIF featured on BBC "Horizon"
The National Ignition Facility, the world's largest laser system, located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, was featured in the BBC broadcast "Horizon" hosted by physicist Brian Cox. Here is the NIF portion of the program, which was entitled "Can We Make A Star On Earth?"
View video (6 min)
Precision Robotic Assembly Machine
(short version)
This is a three-minute video showing a laser-driven fusion ignition target being built.Download short version» 
Download short version»Download full version» Download full version»
Building NIF
This 14-minute video describes the missions, construction challenges, technological breakthroughs and operation of the National Ignition Facility, the world's largest laser. View video (15 min) High » Medium » Low »
How NIF Works
The universe for billions of years has been lit by the fire of countless stars. In these stellar cauldrons, hydrogen nuclei are fused together to form helium nuclei, releasing energy that lights the heavens. Can we build the technology to harness this awesome energy on Earth?Download » Download »
The Power of Light (short version)
This three-minute version of the Power of Light video omits the introduction.Download short version » Download short version » Download full verison » Download full version » 
From the Sun to a Sun
This short video explains the need for fusion energy to meet the world's energy needs. It includes a breathtaking animated ride along a NIF beamline into the target chamber. Download » Download » View 2008 Science on Saturday Lecture (Time: 57min) »
A Legacy of Lasers
This four-minute video traces the history of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s laser programs from the early 1970s to the present-day National Ignition Facility. Download » Download »
Take a Ride on a Beamline
This short animation follows a pulse of laser light as it travels from its origin in the Master Oscillator through a series of NIF amplifiers and conditioners to its final destination in the NIF Target Chamber. Download »
KDP Crystal Growth
Watch a synthetic seed crystal grow into an 800-pound potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystal for use in the National Ignition Facility. Download » Download »
Optical Processing Facility
This video shows the painstaking process of preparing lenses, crystals and other optics for installation in NIF.Download » Download »
Optics Assembly Building
Watch technicians in clean-room body suits install a lens into a line replaceable unit for installation in a NIF beamline. Download » Download »
PAM Factory
In this video technicians assemble and align the components of NIF preamplifier modules, or PAMs. Download » Download »
Optical Switch
Technicians are shown testing the plasma electrode Pockels cell, or PEPC, a key component in the NIF beamline. Download » Download »
Target Chamber Construction
Watch the huge NIF target chamber being assembled and lifted into place in the target bay. Download » Download »
Target Chamber Exterior
This video shows the locations on the NIF target chamber where the final optics assemblies will be attached. Download » Download »
Target Chamber Interior
Ride along with NIF technicians as they take you inside the target chamber on a specially designed lift. Download » Download »
Control Room
Watch and listen as NIF Control Room operators prepare for a laser shot. Download » Download »
Deformable Mirror
See how NIF's unique deformable mirrors correct for aberrations in the laser beam. Download » Download »
