6:00pm: Networking/Pizza Social
7:00pm: Presentation
8:00pm: Adjourn

Cost: Free

Title

"Virtual Tour" of the National Ignition Facility

Speaker

Dr. Jeff Wisoff, National Ignition Facility

Abstract

The National Ignition Facility (NIF), the world's largest and highest-energy laser system, is now fully operational at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). NIF is now being prepared to begin ignition experiments with the goal of demonstrating laser-driven inertial confinement fusion ignition and fusion energy gain in the laboratory for the first time. This presentation will feature photos and videos showing the interior of NIF and descriptions of how NIF works and its important missions in national security, energy security and basic science.

Biography

Dr. Peter J.K. "Jeff" Wisoff is the Deputy Principal Associate Director in the NIF & Photon Science Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. A former NASA astronaut and veteran of four Space Shuttle flights, Jeff completed his BS in physics from UVa in '80 and MS/PhD in applied physics from Stanford in '82 and '86 respectively. He came to LLNL and NIF in the fall of 2001 as a deputy associate project manager for systems engineering. In 2003, he became the associate project manager for small optical systems on NIF, which included responsibility for the front end of the laser and laser diagnostics. Jeff currently serves as the principal deputy in the management of the NIF and Photon Science Directorate.