{"id":693512,"date":"2026-02-09T15:56:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T20:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=693512"},"modified":"2026-07-05T11:57:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T15:57:13","slug":"how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/","title":{"rendered":"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-embed\">\n<div class=\"wp-embed-wrap\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ever Wonder What We Can Do With Lasers?\" width=\"1062\" height=\"597\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pWi_ncECEHo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Laser Lab powers breakthroughs in fusion, national security, and technologies we use every day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":372,"featured_media":693572,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[116],"tags":[41792,18632,5296,43092,16072,93,41012],"class_list":["post-693512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sci-tech","tag-ever-wonder","tag-hajim-school-of-engineering-and-applied-sciences","tag-laboratory-for-laser-energetics","tag-research-impact-powers","tag-school-of-arts-and-sciences","tag-sustainability","tag-videos"],"acf":{"external":"","hide_featured_image":true,"related":"show_related","style":[622682,668362,341072],"content_modules":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"pt-15","title":"<h2>The Laser Lab powers breakthroughs in fusion, national security, and technologies we use every day.<\/h2>","content":"Just south of the River Campus, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/\">University of Rochester<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lle.rochester.edu\/\">Laboratory for Laser Energetics<\/a> (LLE) is home to the largest, and some of the most powerful, lasers in academia. Here, scientists, engineers, and students use light and matter to model the interiors of distant planets, keep our nation secure, and work toward fusion energy for the future.\r\n\r\nHere are a few takeaways about the preeminent facility we at URochester informally\u2014and fondly\u2014call the Laser Lab.\r\n<h3><strong>1. Federal and state investments power cutting-edge science and national security.<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nLLE operates at the intersection of basic science, national and energy security, and workforce development. Much of that work is made possible by federal and state funding. That means public investments in LLE and URochester directly support the scientific underpinnings of the US nuclear stockpile while also fueling new discoveries in physics, fusion energy, and materials science, while training up the next generation of America\u2019s scientists and engineers. These scientists and engineers are needed by the national laboratories, academia, and industry, especially the fast-growing domestic fusion industrial base.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_693772\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"2000\"]<img class=\"wp-image-693772 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fea-2025-03-26_LLE_GCC_laser_209.jpg\" alt=\"Person in a &quot;bunny suit&quot; of lab gear with equipment in the Grating Compressor Chamber of the OMEGA EP Laser.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1200\" \/> <strong>GRATE SCOTT!<\/strong> Laboratory engineer Jeremy Czirr of <span data-teams=\"true\">the OMEGA EP Laser System\u2019s Grating Compressing Chamber.<\/span> (University of Rochester photo \/ J. Adam Fenster)[\/caption]\r\n<h3><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">2. Lasers the size of football fields push matter to star-like extremes.<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nLLE is home to the world\u2019s\u00a0largest university-based laser facilities. At the heart of the lab is the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lle.rochester.edu\/omega-laser-facility\/\">Omega Laser Facility<\/a>. Here,\u00a0two football-field-sized laser systems\u00a0drive targets\u00a0smaller than a millimeter\u00a0to pressures like those found in the\u00a0center of planets and to temperatures\u00a0hotter than the core of a star. These large lasers accomplish <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NqabT21d8VM\">these phenomenal conditions<\/a> in about a billionth of a second.\r\n\r\nTo make those experiments work, LLE crafts and measures targets with astonishing precision, using tools such as two-photon polymerization 3D printing, coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy, and 3D x-ray tomography.\r\n\r\nEven the tiniest imperfection can derail a high-energy-density physics experiment, so this micron-scale precision is essential for generating reliable data about plasmas, materials, and fusion processes.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_575182\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"2000\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-575182\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/fea-HrubyJill@LLE1220220706EP_Kowaluk.jpg\" alt=\"Laser Lab visitors and staff in white safety gear tour the OMEGA EP Target Bay.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1200\" \/> <strong>BETTER TOGETHER:<\/strong> The newest cooperative agreement with the National Nuclear Security Administration allows the Laboratory for Laser Energetics to operate the Omega Laser Facility, which houses two of the largest laser systems in academia. (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics photo \/ Eugene Kowaluk)[\/caption]\r\n<h3><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">3. URochester leads the nation in laser-direct-drive fusion research.<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nLLE is the\u00a0#1 US lab\u00a0in academia for the\u00a0laser\u2013driven\u00a0approach to inertial confinement fusion (ICF), where carefully arranged laser beams symmetrically compress a fuel capsule.\r\n\r\nEach year, more than 800 users from universities, national labs, and industry conduct research at LLE, making URochester a global hub for fusion, high-energy-density science, and technology.\r\n\r\nWhile it may sound like science fiction, LLE is helping bring fusion-based energy closer to reality. In 2022, ignition was achieved by LLNL, with LLE playing a significant role in the journey to this long-awaited achievement. The Laser Lab now leads a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/laboratory-for-laser-energetics-launches-ife-star-ecosystem-636002\/\">national research hub<\/a>\u00a0dedicated to advancing\u00a0inertial fusion energy (IFE)\u00a0science and technology.\r\n\r\nToday, the lab\u2019s scientists are turning to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lle.rochester.edu\/ai-machine-learning\/\">artificial intelligence<\/a> and similar advanced computing technologies to accelerate research.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_623182\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1260\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-623182\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/artificial-intelligence-ai-laser-fusion-research.gif\" alt=\"GIF of the Omega Laser Facility target chamber shooting a target.\" width=\"1260\" height=\"836\" \/> <strong>DIRECT-DRIVE TIME:<\/strong> View from inside the OMEGA target chamber during a direct-drive inertial fusion experiment at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics GIF \/ Rebecca Sabowski)[\/caption]\r\n<h3><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">4. LLE has rare, end-to-end capabilities for tritium and cryogenic fuel.<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nFusion experiments don\u2019t just require powerful lasers\u2014they also depend on\u00a0safely handling tritium, a rare and radioactive form of hydrogen. LLE\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lle.rochester.edu\/cryogenic-tritium\/\">Cryogenic and Tritium Facility<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0unique in the nation\u00a0for bringing every step of tritium-based fuel preparation under one roof.\r\n\r\nThese capabilities minimize waste, maximize control over a scarce resource, and support world-class fusion science for researchers across the country.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_693592\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"2000\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-693592\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fea-TRS-20250917jd2-2.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a blue lab coat working in the Laboratory for Laser Energetics' tritium facilities.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1200\" \/> <strong>SAFETY FIRST:<\/strong> Working with tritium requires rigorous safety, precision, and expertise. With facilities designed to meet strict regulatory standards, LLE is one of the few institutions capable of conducting this highly specialized work. (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics photo \/ Jake Deats)[\/caption]\r\n<h3><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">5. A next-generation, 25-petawatt laser facility is in design.<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nAs if having the largest university-based laser systems wasn\u2019t enough, LLE is now designing what could become one of the most powerful lasers in the world.\r\n\r\nThe\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nsf-opal.rochester.edu\/\">NSF OPAL\u00a0facility<\/a>\u2014funded by the National Science Foundation\u2014will consist of two 25-petawatt lasers located at LLE. (For reference, one petawatt equal to one quadrillion watts of power). The system will harness another URochester innovation, optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification, to push beyond current peak-power limits.\r\n\r\nNSF OPAL will enable scientists to study ultra-high electromagnetic fields, explore unprecedented and extreme temperatures and pressures, and probe matter under conditions similar to the most energetic events in the universe. Omega Laser Facility fusion experiments take mass and convert it to energy through fusion, consistent with Albert Einstein\u2019s famous equation, \ud835\udc38=\ud835\udc5a\ud835\udc50<sup> 2<\/sup>. NSF OPAL experiments may someday demonstrate the opposite process of <a href=\"https:\/\/nsf-opal.rochester.edu\/mp3-workshop\/\">converting laser energy to mass<\/a>.\r\n\r\nDesigned to serve the global research communities for decades to come, NSF OPAL will keep URochester\u2014and the United States\u2014at the very frontier of ultrahigh-peak power, ultrafast laser science.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_693852\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"2000\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-693852\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/inline-NSF_OPAL_web.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration depicting the NSF OPAL laser facility along with the NSF OPAL logo.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1200\" \/> Three-dimensional architectural rendering of the proposed NSF OPAL Facility (courtesy of SWBR).[\/caption]\r\n<h3><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">6. It\u2019s one of the only laser facilities that trains high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in laser-based science and engineering.<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nLLE isn\u2019t just a lab\u2014it\u2019s a\u00a0training ground for tomorrow\u2019s workforce.\r\n\r\nThrough close collaboration with University of Rochester faculty, LLE builds the\u00a0world\u2019s largest university-based community in laser science and technology, preparing students to lead in industry, academia, and national laboratories.\r\n\r\nAnd we believe in giving capable and ambitious young researchers a head start. In addition to regularly hosting undergraduates on site, each year the Laser Lab <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lle.rochester.edu\/education\/summer-high-school-research-program\/\">welcomes high schoolers<\/a> to spend two months conducting hands-on research in a world-class facility. And did we mention they get paid? Not a bad way for area juniors to answer the question, \u201cWhat did you do on your summer vacation?\u201d\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_693642\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"2000\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-693642\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/inline-Ruth-Reynolds-and-Daniel-Menis-20240725jd1.jpg\" alt=\"Ruth Reynolds and Daniela Menis in lab coats bathed in blue light in the Laser Lab's Microfabrication Lab.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" \/> <strong>PATHWAY PROGRAMS:<\/strong> Undergraduate students Ruth Reynolds and Daniel Menis work in the Microfabrication Lab. (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics photo \/ Jake Deats)[\/caption]\r\n<h3><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">7. Nobel Prize\u2013winning laser technology was invented here\u2014and it touches everyday life.<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIn 1985, at LLE, then-graduate student Donna Strickland \u201989 (PhD) and senior scientist G\u00e9rard Mourou invented chirped-pulse amplification (CPA), a technique that revolutionized laser science.\r\n\r\nCPA works by stretching\u00a0a laser pulse in time to lower its peak power, amplifying\u00a0the stretched pulse, and then compressing\u00a0it back into an ultrashort, extremely intense pulse. The breakthrough earned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/review-fall-2018-nobel-laureates-donna-strickland-gerard-mourou\/\">Strickland and Mourou the\u00a02018 Nobel Prize in Physics<\/a>\u2014and it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/what-is-chirped-pulse-amplification-nobel-prize-341072\/\">underpins many technologies<\/a> we now take for granted:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Medicine: <\/strong>laser-based cancer treatments and precision procedures such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/aaas-golden-goose-bladeless-lasik-eye-surgery-development-533122\/\">bladeless Lasik<\/a> to reshape the cornea.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Manufacturing: <\/strong>micromachining and the\u00a0precise cutting of smartphone cover glass\u00a0and other materials.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Research: <\/strong>taking ultrafast images of split-second molecular processes, modeling extreme conditions in space, and developing new materials and fusion concepts.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nCPA is also foundational for\u00a0OMEGA EP and the next generation of ultrahigh-intensity lasers around the world.\r\n\r\nIn the hands of URochester\u2019s scientists and students, light itself becomes a tool for understanding the universe\u2014and for imagining what comes next.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_693792\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"2000\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-693792\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fea-2018-12-06_LLE_CPA_group_254.jpg\" alt=\"Three scientists in lab safety gear stand behind a laser array used to undertake chirped pulse amplification research at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1200\" \/> <strong>NOBEL PURSUITS:<\/strong> LLE scientists continue to use chirped-pulse amplification to develop new laser technologies and better understand the fundamentals of high-energy-density physics. (University of Rochester photo \/ J. Adam Fenster)[\/caption]","background_color":"#ffffff","width":"width-medium"}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Laser Lab at URochester powers breakthroughs in fusion, national security, and technologies we use every day.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Laser Lab at URochester powers breakthroughs in fusion, national security, and technologies we use every day.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-09T20:56:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-05T15:57:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1-1200x630.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sofia Tokar\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sofia Tokar\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sofia Tokar\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6e2aecfd2d62aca26a6a82e0f0153199\"},\"headline\":\"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-09T20:56:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-05T15:57:13+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":19,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"Ever Wonder\",\"Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences\",\"Laboratory for Laser Energetics\",\"Research Impact Powers\",\"School of Arts and Sciences\",\"sustainability\",\"videos\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Science &amp; Technology\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/\",\"name\":\"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-09T20:56:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-05T15:57:13+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6e2aecfd2d62aca26a6a82e0f0153199\"},\"description\":\"The Laser Lab at URochester powers breakthroughs in fusion, national security, and technologies we use every day.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1.jpeg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1200,\"caption\":\"Video still showing Dave Canning pointing a laser pointer at a piece of paper near text that reads \\\"ever wonder\\\" and a thought bubble containing the phrase \\\"what can we do with lasers?\\\"\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/\",\"name\":\"News Center\",\"description\":\"University of Rochester\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6e2aecfd2d62aca26a6a82e0f0153199\",\"name\":\"Sofia Tokar\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rochester.edu\\\/newscenter\\\/author\\\/stokar\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society","description":"The Laser Lab at URochester powers breakthroughs in fusion, national security, and technologies we use every day.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society","og_description":"The Laser Lab at URochester powers breakthroughs in fusion, national security, and technologies we use every day.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/","og_site_name":"News Center","article_published_time":"2026-02-09T20:56:18+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-05T15:57:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1-1200x630.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Sofia Tokar","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sofia Tokar","Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/"},"author":{"name":"Sofia Tokar","@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/#\/schema\/person\/6e2aecfd2d62aca26a6a82e0f0153199"},"headline":"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society","datePublished":"2026-02-09T20:56:18+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-05T15:57:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/"},"wordCount":19,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1.jpeg","keywords":["Ever Wonder","Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences","Laboratory for Laser Energetics","Research Impact Powers","School of Arts and Sciences","sustainability","videos"],"articleSection":["Science &amp; Technology"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/","name":"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1.jpeg","datePublished":"2026-02-09T20:56:18+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-05T15:57:13+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/#\/schema\/person\/6e2aecfd2d62aca26a6a82e0f0153199"},"description":"The Laser Lab at URochester powers breakthroughs in fusion, national security, and technologies we use every day.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fea-EverWonder-Lasers-Thumbnail-horiz-NC-2000x1200-1.jpeg","width":2000,"height":1200,"caption":"Video still showing Dave Canning pointing a laser pointer at a piece of paper near text that reads \"ever wonder\" and a thought bubble containing the phrase \"what can we do with lasers?\""},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/how-laboratory-for-laser-energetics-shapes-science-society-693512\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"7 surprising ways URochester\u2019s Laboratory for Laser Energetics shapes science and society"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/","name":"News Center","description":"University of Rochester","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/#\/schema\/person\/6e2aecfd2d62aca26a6a82e0f0153199","name":"Sofia Tokar","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/author\/stokar\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/372"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=693512"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":694702,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/693512\/revisions\/694702"}],"acf:post":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/341072"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/668362"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/693572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=693512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=693512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=693512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}