Timeline - Laboratory for Laser Energetics

Group of people in business attire standing outdoors in front of a brick and glass building during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Timeline – 2024

Image of Cooperative Agreement publication on a background of a blue target shot.

Timeline – 2023

Portrait of a man in a suit standing beside a reflective stone wall, smiling slightly.

Timeline – 2022

Top photo is a laser experiment viewed from inside the chamber, with several beamline ports aimed toward a bright central plasma. Bottom photo shows a group of scientists gathered around computer equipment in a laser facility control room.

Timeline – 2021

A technician in cleanroom gear working on a laser experiment illuminated by intense blue light, with a glowing yellow diagnostic screen in the background.

Timeline – 2020

Large experimental facility interior showing walkways, pipes, and cables surrounding high-energy laser or fusion equipment.

Timeline – 2019

Timeline – 2018

Timeline – 2017

Photo of two people in lab attire handling a piece of lab equipment.

Timeline – 2016

A close-up photo of a metallic cylindrical scientific component with precision threads and internal structures.

Timeline – 2015

Two men wearing suits and academic medals stand side by side in front of a decorative wall with the University of Rochester emblem.

Timeline – 2014

A bright green laser beam illuminating a red plasma-like burst, captured during a high-energy laser experiment.

Timeline – 2013

Photograph of two men in suit and ties holding framed certificate or award. One of the men weart a medal on a ribbon around his neck.

Timeline – 2012

Photo of a taget shot. Images of four different coil shapes are superimposed on the background image.

Timeline – 2011

Anniversary collage that reads: UR LLE 40 Years of Excellence, 1970–2010, surrounded by portraits of five LLE directors and images of five major laser systems representing the laboratory’s history.

Timeline – 2010

Timeline – 2009

Photo of older man in dress suit gesturing with wide arms at a podium.

Timeline – 2008

Black-and-white microscope image of a spherical capsule or droplet centered inside a circular holder.

Timeline – 2007

Small cylindrical target mounted on a thin rod shown next to a US penny for scale.

Timeline – 2006

Photo of an older man in dress suit standing in front of a brick wall. The brick wall contains an inscription that reads "THE ROBERT L. SPROULL CENTER FOR ULTRA HIGH INTENSITY LASER RESEARCH."

Timeline – 2005

Timeline – 2004

Timeline – 2003

Timeline – 2002

Timeline – 2001

A photo of a laser experiment within the target chamber showing remnants of spider webs, in green, on either side of the target, in orange .

Timeline – 2000

A photo of Hope D’Alessandro, electronics technician, preparing a NIF deformable mirror substrate for surface figure testing.

Timeline – 1999

Array of four x-ray images showing red circular shapes with bright yellow dots at their centers, depicting an imploding shell with a titanium-doped layer.

Timeline – 1998

An image of DRACO tests.

Timeline – 1997

A graph where UV energy on target is charted on the x axis and Neutron yield is charted on the y axis.

Timeline – 1996

A photo of several clusters of beamlines in the OMEGA Laser System firing.

Timeline – 1995

Timeline – 1994

OMEGA Laser construction and installation taken from inside the LLE building.

Timeline – 1993

Dr. Robert McCrory and Terleta “T.” Willis reviewing computer systems.

Timeline – 1992

Bright light emits from a circular component at one end of a rectangular amplifier box, which has multiple cables connected.

Timeline – 1991

Schematic of the proposed OMEGA upgrade.

Timeline – 1990

Timeline – 1989

Target shot glowing with blue light.

Timeline – 1988

Close-up view inside a target-positioning chamber showing precision metal manipulators surrounding a small mounted target.

Timeline – 1987

Scientific American magazine cover from August 1986 featuring an artistic interior view of a laser or fusion target chamber.

Timeline – 1986

Figures schematic showing a short pulse being converted to an amplified short pulse

Timeline – 1985

A man in a suit smiling and holding up a glass as if to toast while standing in a laboratory environment.

Timeline – 1984

Portrait of a man in a suit seated in front of a bookshelf filled with books.

Timeline – 1983

Portrait of a man in a white shirt and tie standing in front of a blue background with scientific graphics.

Timeline – 1982

Plot showing laser intensity versus wavelength, with multiple colored curves labeled 0.25 µm, 0.33 µm, 0.50 µm, 1 µm, and 10 µm, highlighting a relevant operating regime.

Timeline – 1981

Large laser facility bay with rows of blue laser beamline units and technicians walking through the area.

Timeline – 1980

Researcher adjusting instruments on a large stainless-steel vacuum chamber or diagnostic system with multiple ports and cables.

Timeline – 1979

Man operating early computer or instrumentation equipment, standing at a console with monitors and control panels.

Timeline – 1978

Researchers working with a large cylindrical laser or diagnostic assembly connected to multiple cables and control components.

Timeline – 1977

Black-and-white photograph of people gathered around the 1976 cornerstone as it is set into place during construction of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics building.

Timeline – 1976

Outdoor photo of several men in suits standing together during a formal event or site visit. One is holding a shovel.

Timeline – 1975

Researcher adjusting a plasma or laser diagnostic assembly with numerous attached cables and tubing.

Timeline – 1974

Interior of a vacuum chamber showing a circular target mount and diagnostic hardware illuminated by warm light.

Timeline – 1973

Group photo of scientists and staff seated and standing around a conference table in a classroom or meeting room.

Timeline – 1972

A group of people gathered outside a brick building observing or assisting with construction work near a large piece of yellow machinery.

Timeline – 1971

Formal black and white studio photo of University of Rochester President Robert L. Sproull.

Timeline – 1970

Person smiling while seated in an office with bookshelves in the background.

Timeline – Pre 1970