The very first event of the LaserFusion, an educational-training intensive program (IP) on “Physics and Technology of Inertial Fusion Energy”, is orgnazised at the University of Bordeaux in France, from July 15 to 25, 2025.
The classes cover a progression from the basic plasma physics processes to more advanced topics related to laser-driven fusion, including laser-plasma interaction diagnostics. The school consists of theoretical lectures, practical sessions, and seminars. Moreover, a visit to Laser Mégajoule (LMJ) has been arranged for the attendees. The program begins with an initial test to assess attendees’ prior knowledge of plasma physics. Final exams at the end of the IP are intent to evaluate what the attendees learned during the program. Upon completion of the school, students fill out an online questionnaire to provide feedback and evaluate the school.
A total of 20 students (from final-year Bachelor’s to PhD level) will participate, selected from the eight LaserFusion partners: Université de Bordeaux (UBx), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), University of York (UoY), Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (FSU), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI-ERIC), Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IPP), and Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU).
The pedagogical team coordinating the school at the University of Bordeaux consists of Professor João Jorge Santos, Professor Dimitri Batani, and Professor Emmanuel d’Humières. They are responsible for delivering the core lectures and organizing the hands-on training sessions of the IP. Dedicated seminar lectures will be delivered by members of the LaserFusion consortium partners: David Blackman (ELI-beamlines, Czech Republic), Gabriele Cristoforetti (CNR, Italy), Ioannis Fitilis (HMU, Greece), Sébastien Le Pape (IPP, France), John Pasley (UoY, UK), Luca Volpe (UPM, Madrid), Matt Zepf (FSU, Germany), while a webinar from the associated partner, Focused Energy GmbH, is delivered by Prof. Markus Roth.
An indicative timetable for the two weeks is presented below.
The theoretical courses cover the following topics:
¤ Chapter 1: Introduction and classification of plasmas + individual charge drifts in plasmas
¤ Chapter 2: Hydrodynamic description of a plasma
¤ Chapter 3: Radiative properties of plasmas
¤ Chapter 4: Kinetic description of waves and instabilities in plasmas
¤ Chapter 5: Principles of inertial confinement fusion
The practical courses include both laboratory and numerical sessions.
Specific seminars, delivered by all consortium’s partners, are as follows:
¤ Seminar 1: Laser-based plasma diagnostics (optical diagnostics)
¤ Seminar 2: Hydrodynamics driven by short-pulse laser-plasma interactions
¤ Seminar 3: Ion stopping power: theory, experiments and diagnostics
¤ Seminar 4: Theory of laser plasma instabilities in direct drive ICF
¤ Seminar 5: Laser-plasma experiments and diagnostics on laser plasma interactions
¤ Seminar 6: Plasma diagnostics for inertial fusion energy
¤ Seminar 7: Achieving ignition and gain in inertial fusion energy
A webinar delivered by our associated partner, Focused Energy GmbH, provides insight into the commercialization of IFE.
A draft flyer, including the syllabus and preliminary program, can be found here: preliminary program