Igniting Scientific Discovery with AI and Supercomputing

In Dec. 2022, researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) achieved fusion ignition for the first time in history. This breakthrough, more than 60 years in the making, was achieved at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility and was enabled by a combination of traditional fusion target design methods, world-class Department of Energy supercomputing and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques.

The success of ignition marks a significant milestone in fusion energy research, and was facilitated in part by the precision simulations and rapid experimental data analysis only possible through high performance computing and AI-driven tools — an approach LLNL calls “cognitive simulation.” Using DOE’s unparalleled high performance computing (HPC) resources and AI, researchers were confident that the experiments at NIF would reach ignition.

This merger of HPC and AI is already having a transformative impact on science —particularly in the field of fusion energy — and is enhancing national security efforts and opening doors to further scientific advancements at DOE. However, transitioning from ignition to a viable fusion energy ecosystem, including DOE’s national laboratories, academia, and industry, remains a formidable challenge, necessitating continued investments and a broad commitment to HPC, fusion R&D and AI initiatives. Despite the hurdles, harnessing the power of supercomputing and AI has the potential to lead the world towards a brighter, cleaner and more sustainable future.

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