Gallery: Scientists Are Trying to Make Nuclear Fusion With Frickin' Lasers

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    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    01

    Lasers2.jpg

    A service module raises technicians towards the target positioner.
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    Bloomberg/Getty Images
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    Lasers6-94949140.jpg

    Instruments can be viewed from within the target chamber at the National Ignition Facility.
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    James Pryatel/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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    Lasers1.jpg

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    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    04

    Lasers5.jpg

    An image of a National Ignition Facility "Big Foot" deuterium-tritium implosion on February 7, 2016.
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    Getty Images
    05

    Lasers4-119455864.jpg

    An employee inspects a target chamber at the National Ignition Facility.
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    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    06

    Lasers7.jpg

    A view from the bottom of the chamber's interior.
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    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    07

    Lasers8.jpg

    Lasers used by the international inertial confinement fusion community for experimentation and testing target designs and diagnostics.
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    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    08

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    An Image of the target chamber being lifted and moved to the Target Bay, in June 1999.
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    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    09

    Lasers11.jpg

    The chamber was then lowered into the Target Bay.
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    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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    Lasers9.jpg

    The exterior of the National Ignition Facility.
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