HiPER Project is Launched

Last week saw the launch of HIPER, the proposed European High Power laser Energy Research facility which aims to use laser driven fusion as a future energy source.

HIPER was launched by scientists and engineers and European ministers at the Science Museum last week. The launch is the start of a three year planning phase, and is the first step into facilitating the set up of a nuclear fusion facility.
Fusion is the same force that powers the sun and is considered a clean and green energy source that presents an attractive alternative to our reliance on fossil fuel energy. The fuel is found in atoms in sea water and no green house gases or long-lived radioactive waste is emitted.
The proof of principal experiments are expected between 2010 and 2012 and are being carried out in California (NIF) and Bordeaux (Laser Megajoule).  Following proof of principle, a commercial reactor is needed and this is where HIPER comes in.
The HiPER project involves set up of large facility that will aim high powered lasers at a small pellet of heavy hydrogen. The lasers initially compress the pellet and then heat it to 100 million degrees resulting in nuclear fusion of the hydrogen into helium. During this process large amounts of energy are released which can be harnessed and turned into electricity. 
The project involves partners from 10 EC countries and 20 organisations including Imperial College London. HIPER is highly relevant to many researchers at Imperial College and our Department of Physics and covers many fields including astrophysics, materials, particle physics and other areas of fundamental physics research.
For more information on HiPER visit the HIPER home page http://www.hiper-laser.org/