Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, in Livermore, California, is a research facility involved primarily in developing science and technology to meet the national security needs of the United States. The laboratory has designed nuclear warheads for missiles and developed nuclear and biological weapon detectors.
Scientists at the laboratory also conduct research in other areas, such as biology and environmental science. They are working to develop new forms of energy technology, particularly involving the control of nuclear fusion for the generation of electric power (see Fusion ). The lab’s National Ignition Facility (NIF), completed in 2009, is the largest laser in the world. It will enable scientists to study fusion and other processes that occur at extremely high densities and temperatures. It began performing experiments in January 2010.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is operated by the University of California under contract with the United States government. It is named for the American physicist Ernest O. Lawrence. The laboratory opened in 1952.
