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Two world-leading research institutions are joining forces and their laser design and simulation expertise – to successfully transition laser-ignited inertial fusion from the experimental stage to industrial application. In the project ICONIC-FL (International Cooperation on Next-gen Inertial Confinement Fusion Lasers), the US Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT Aachen, Germany, are diligently collating their sophisticated laser simulation models. The shared aim is the development of high-energy lasers that can ignite a fusion reaction and will run at maximum efficiency in 24/7 power plant operation. This requires precise and highly accurate predictions of laser performance, which is why powerful computer simulations play a central role in the development of laser architecture.

From April 22 to 24, 2026, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT is hosting the 15th "AKL – International Laser Technology Congress". For three days, Aachen will once again become the center of the international laser and photonics industry. The congress program has been significantly expanded and is aimed at laser users, manufacturers, and developers, focusing on the latest research results, industrial trends, and practical solutions. Thanks to over 500 participants, more than 80 presentations, and 53 exhibitor stands, AKL has established itself as the leading European platform for applied laser technology.

Over the next three years, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will be working with regional partners to develop new technologies to reduce the cost-intensive use of precious metals in proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. At Fraunhofer ILT's Hydrogen Lab, researchers are presenting the entire process chain – from simulation and testing to the manufacturing of components and systems for hydrogen technology.

The high-tech company TRUMPF, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, and the Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems at the Department of Physics at Freie Universität Berlin are researching the fundamentals of laser physics with the help of quantum algorithms. The long-term goal is to use quantum computers to significantly accelerate the development process for new lasers in the future. “If we understand the physical processes involved in generating and amplifying laser light more precisely, we will be able to make our products even more efficient and increase their performance in the future,” says Daniel Basilewitsch, who is responsible for the project at TRUMPF. The central question is whether quantum computers can simulate the complex quantum mechanical processes that take place in lasers better than the conventional high-performance computers that TRUMPF has used to date.