Laboratory Basic Science

The merit-based LBS Program provides dedicated shot time on the Omega Laser Facility for basic science experiments led by researchers from the participating NNSA Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Program laboratories (LLNL, LANL, SNL, LLE) and other DOE Office of Science laboratories.

The LBS program is supported by the Office of Experimental Sciences (OES) of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), enabling eligible users to conduct experiments without incurring direct facility charges.

LBS projects are selected through an annual call for proposal and review process administered by LLE. Proposals are reviewed and ranked according to their scientific merit, executability, and broad impact by an independent proposal review panel (PRP) consisting of subject matter experts from universities, industry, and government laboratories. The facility and experimental support team at LLE conducts experimental feasibility and executability assessment, which is provided to the LBS PRP.

While the principal investigators must be from the eligible laboratories, many LBS projects have involved collaborators including students from other institutions.

Acknowledging the LBS User Program

Research findings from the LBS experiments are expected to be broadly disseminated, including journal publications. LBS users must include an acknowledgment of the LBS user program and federal support as well as a disclaimer in the publication based on or developed under the LBS project. Publications must also go through LLE’s Review and Release procedure to be documented prior to submission and should be submitted through LLE’s Publications ticketing system (for LLE PIs and coauthors) or forwarded to the NLUF Program Manager for projects without an LLE coauthor.

 Acknowledgment for LBS user program support:

“The experiment was conducted at the Omega Laser Facility with the beam time through the Laboratory Basic Science user program. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy [National Nuclear Security Administration] University of Rochester “National Inertial Confinement Fusion Program” under Award Number(s) DE-NA0004144.”

 Disclaimer: 

“This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.”