Magnetic-containment plasma fusion reactors have the potential to revolutionize energy production.
However, sustaining the fusion reaction inside the reactor is difficult due to the incredibly high temperatures and densities required.
One potential avenue to building a sustained fusion reactor is reheating and refueling the reactor plasma via neutral beam injection, where additional high-energy deuterium fuel is fired into the reactor continuously.
To build a neutral beam injector, ultra-high power laser cavities can be employed to photoneutralize the high energy deuterium beam just before injection into the fusion reactor.
In short, ultra-high power laser cavities can possibly enable a self-sustaining fusion plasma.
The Syracuse gravitational-waves department is working with the Department of Energy on extending the use of ultra high-power cavities for gravitational-wave detection to the realm of fusion research.