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Dr. Yannik Zobus, a laser physicist at GSI/FAIR in Darmstadt, is head of the LASE-FUSE (LAser Simulation for Enhanced FUSion Efficiency) Young Investigators Group since May 1, 2026. As part of the “Fusionstalente” (fusion talents) funding program of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), the project will receive three million euros in funding over five years. Thus, already for the second time a GSI/FAIR project is awarded in the framework of the BMFTR initiative.
The LASE-FUSE project aims to advance the development of future high-power laser systems for laser-driven inertial confinement fusion. In this method, a millimeter-sized fuel capsule is compressed and heated by short, high-energy laser pulses until ignition conditions for nuclear fusion are reached. However, the required laser systems pose extremely high technical challenges.
LASE-FUSE therefore focuses on developing a comprehensive, modular simulation framework that serves as a digital twin of fusion laser systems and, for the first time, enables holistic modeling of all relevant system components—from laser generation through beam shaping and amplification to transport just before interaction with the fusion fuel.
A key objective is to consolidate previously fragmented simulation approaches into an integrated tool that enables the virtual optimization of complex laser systems as early as the design phase, thereby accelerating development processes and identifying risks at an early stage. Building on this, LASE-FUSE investigates how concepts for increasing fusion laser efficiency — in particular, spatially and temporally structured laser pulses as well as temporally adaptive focusing (“focal zooming”) — can be realistically simulated, evaluated, and implemented in system designs. In addition, realistic detector models are being developed to establish a consistent link between simulation and experimental measurement.
“LASE-FUSE lays the foundation for a new generation of simulation tools that can significantly accelerate the development of fusion lasers,” says Dr. Yannik Zobus. “Our goal is to model the complexity of modern laser systems in a way that allows for the direct derivation of reliable design decisions for future fusion power plants.”
The young investigators group is closely integrated into the research environment at GSI/FAIR within the department of Plasma Physics, led by Professor Vincent Bagnoud, and builds on existing developments in the field of high-energy laser physics. “Dr. Yannik Zobus’s research builds on the groundwork laid at GSI as part of the EU project THRILL, particularly on the OPOSSUM simulation platform developed there. They already demonstrate the potential of holistic modeling of high-power laser systems. LASE-FUSE now specifically extends this approach toward fusion-relevant applications and is an important step toward an open, widely usable simulation tool for international high-energy laser research,” said Bagnoud.
Dr. Yannik Zobus is the second “fusion talent” at GSI/FAIR — following Dr. Jonas Ohland, who already received funding in the framework of the BMFTR program in 2025. Professor Thomas Nilsson, Scientific Director of GSI and FAIR, congratulates: “Together with Dr. Yannik Zobus, we celebrate this recognition of our expertise. Fusion research is a national priority on the path to a sustainable energy supply. In accordance with the goals of the State of Hesse, GSI/FAIR aims to play a pioneering role in the field of fusion research. Crucial for this is the synergy between long-standing scientific know-how and the fresh impulses provided by young talents, who are an indispensable driving force for innovation. ”
Through close collaboration with academic and industrial partners such as Marvel Fusion (Munich) and Focused Energy (Darmstadt), LASE-FUSE also intends to strengthen an innovation-driven ecosystem. In the long term, the plan is to institutionalize this work within a center of excellence for holistic laser simulation to support the training of future professionals for science and industry.
About Dr. Yannik Zobus
Dr. Yannik Zobus studied at the Technical University of Darmstadt and obtained his PhD in 2023 with a thesis based on work at the high-power laser PHELIX (Petawatt High-Energy Laser for Ion Experiments) at GSI/FAIR. Following this, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at GSI/FAIR within the THRILL project – a European research collaboration coordinated by GSI aimed at developing new designs and high-performance components for high-energy lasers with high repetition rates.
The simulation platform OPOSSUM (Open-source Optics Simulation System and Unified Modeler), which he developed for the holistic modeling of high-energy laser systems, together with his contributions to fusion-relevant laser technologies, such as those employed at PHELIX, formed the basis for the LASE-FUSE proposal.
About the „Fusionstalente“ program
“Fusionstalente” — a young investigators program, initiated by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space — aims to strengthen expertise in fusion research by fostering the development of young scientific talent. It supports early-career researchers through targeted funding of their own group, training opportunities, and access to cutting-edge fusion research facilities. By investing in the next generation of fusion scientists, the program contributes to advancing sustainable and innovative energy solutions in Germany and Europe. The Fusionstalente program is part of the funding program “Fusion 2040 – Research on the Way to the Fusion Power Plant”.
https://www.gsi.de/en/start/news/details/2026/05/07/fusionstalent-yannik-zobus
Dr. Yannik Zobus tests the adjustment of a PHELIX preamplifier for spectrally incoherent pulses, as ...
Copyright: J. Hornung, GSI/FAIR
Illustration of the fusion process — Failed fusion due to suboptimal laser parameters (l.); initiati ...
Copyright: Y. Zobus (AI-generated)
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