Hamamatsu Photonics Achieves a world-leading laser output of 200J at 10Hz. Accelerating the development of a 1-kilojoule laser for laser fusion power generation

2025/08/28
  • Hamamatsu Photonics K. K.
    Headquarters: 325-6, Sunayama-cho, Chuo-ku,
    Hamamatsu City, Japan
    President and CEO: Tadashi Maruno

Laser system in operation at 200J × 10Hz

Laser system in operation at 200J × 10Hz

Hamamatsu Photonics has achieved a world-leading output for diode-pumped solid-state lasers, successfully generating an average laser power of 2 kW. This was accomplished by emitting laser pulses with an energy of 200 joules (J) at a repetition rate of 10 hertz (Hz).

The primary objective of this experiment was to verify the maximum energy density of laser that can be amplified within the laser system during repeated 10 Hz operation. This condition presents significant optical and thermal challenges.

By enhancing the cooling performance of the laser medium and improving the beam quality of the laser in our world-class high-power laser system, we successfully generated a laser output that exceeds twice the conventional power with 1.7 times of energy density. This not only marks a breakthrough in achieving the world’s highest laser output, but also allows us to identify the threshold at which amplified laser begins to damage internal optical components coated by currently typical technology.

As a result, we have reached a significant milestone toward realizing laser fusion power generation: the conceptual design of a 1 kJ × 10 Hz laser system and the identification of its key technical challenges.

These results will be presented during a presentation at the 13th International Conference on Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications (IFSA 2025), in Tours, France, from Sunday, September 14 to Thursday, September 18, 2025.