Satellite images analyzed by researchers from CNA Corp and the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies reveal the facility’s large-scale layout, which includes four laser bays and a central experiment chamber. The chamber will contain hydrogen isotopes targeted by powerful lasers to produce energy through fusion, similar to the US National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California. The Chinese facility’s experiment bay is estimated to be 50% larger than NIF, currently the world’s largest of its kind.
Although the project is not officially confirmed, experts still believe that the project has two purposes. According to William Alberque from the Henry L Stimson Center, it could be used in the improvement of nuclear weapons design without explosive tests. This actually falls under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty which allows subcritical tests and inertial confinement fusion research but bars nuclear detonations.
Neither the foreign ministry nor the scientific authorities of China commented on this development. Nevertheless, US officials and scientists, including Omar Hurricane from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, underlined that even though laser fusion research is key to scientific progress, it indicates questions complicated in nature for nuclear development.
The Mianyang facility, officially titled Laser Fusion Major Device Laboratory, represents a significant step forward for China. The technology of fusion has been seriously pursued around the world for many years because it offers the promise of clean energy. As research into nuclear weapons is an area of strategic interest, it remains an international concern.
While advancing, nuclear researchers such as Siegfried Hecker believe the advancement will hardly shift the existing balance of powers because China remains much smaller and has a comparative history of smaller nuclear test banks compared to even countries like the US.
It underlines increasing significance of laser fusion in innovative energy and security strategy.
