Omar Hurricane

Chief Scientist, LLNL Inertial Confinement Fusion Program

Appears in 1 story

Education: University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Irvine, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Last updated Nov 2, 2026

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The race to repeatable fusion ignition

New Capabilities

Oversees NIF fusion research strategy since 2014

NIF achieved ignition for the 11th time on June 20, 2026, producing 7.9 megajoules from 2.08 megajoules of laser energy. The Department of Energy approved a laser upgrade in April that will push NIF's laser energy from 2.2 to 2.6 megajoules, which would allow the 8.6-megajoule yield record to be broken.

Updated Oct 22