Tritium, a rare and radioactive form of hydrogen, is a critical fuel in the pursuit of controlled nuclear fusion—the same process that powers the sun. Our advanced research in fusion fuel systems contributes directly to programs that safeguard U.S. technological leadership and strengthen scientific foundations.
LLE’s tritium science facilities represent a unique platform to explore key questions in fusion physics and materials science. Our research transforms fundamental concepts into real-world systems that improve how tritium can be safely stored, handled, and measured. Through work in materials science, laboratory innovation, and engineering, LLE strengthens critical capabilities for tritium management while providing training opportunities for students.
We take ideas from the earliest stages of scientific exploration and develop them into practical systems that enhance the safe and effective use of tritium. This approach provides essential support to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program and contributes to broader scientific progress in the field.
Safer tritium use depends on advanced materials. LLE researchers develop new coatings and thin films with nanometer-level precision that improve capabilities for storing, transporting, and purifying tritium. These efforts draw on expertise from optics and semiconductor research and are strengthened through collaborations with the University of Rochester’s URNano facility and research partners across the country.
LLE’s dedicated tritium laboratory is equipped with specialized systems to conduct safe, precise, and innovative experiments. The lab includes multiple gloveboxes for handling and preparing tritium samples, a Thermal Cycling and Absorption Process (TCAP) isotope separation system, a gas chromatograph for chemical analysis, and workstations designed for tritium-related experiments. These tools allow researchers to support the NNSA’s ICF program while advancing new methods to manage and measure tritium safely and efficiently.
LLE’s tritium science program also ensures that new technologies move from the lab into practice. Researchers test and validate diagnostics that monitor primary and secondary gas streams, explore new approaches for scrubbing tritium from secondary systems, and contribute to safety infrastructure within the Tritium Facility. They also work side by side with principal investigators and engineers to design and fabricate experimental platforms—at LLE and at partner institutions—so that tritium science advances lead directly to stronger tools and safer operations.
Education is built into every part of LLE’s tritium science program. Students of all levels gain opportunities to work with experts, learn advanced techniques, and contribute to active research. By engaging the next generation in hands-on projects of national importance, LLE ensures that the field of tritium science continues to grow in both expertise and impact.
Working with tritium requires rigorous safety, precision, and expertise. Our facilities are designed to meet strict regulatory standards, making LLE one of the few institutions capable of conducting this highly specialized work.