Fort Collins is poised to become home to one of the most powerful laser facilities in the world and an international epicenter for research into inertial fusion energy, lasers and photonics, and high energy density physics under an emerging partnership between Colorado State University and Marvel Fusion.
The $150 million venture creates a public-private partnership to support construction of a next-generation, high-power laser and fusion research facility on the CSU Foothills Campus. The partnership, pending finalization of the financial details by the CSU System Board of Governors, would establish Fort Collins as a nexus for laser fusion research and deliver significant positive impacts to Colorado.
“CSU has been at the forefront of laser research for many years, and this new partnership would cement the University as an international leader in an area of laser science that has the potential to deliver profound benefits to our planet for generations,” CSU President Amy Parsons said. “The project aims to open up new avenues of research and exploration for students and faculty, and drive meaningful, long-term benefits to Fort Collins and the state.”
Marvel Fusion is a private company working to commercialize fusion energy through its laser technology. When completed, this state-of-the-art facility is envisioned to serve as a platform to advance the company’s fusion approach. Advancing laser fusion and its potential as a new source of power is critical because of its ability to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of how energy is supplied globally.