Editing Laboratory for Laser Energetics (section)

==OMEGA EP laser==
The OMEGA EP (extended performance) laser system is an independently operable laser device and extension to OMEGA dedicated on May 16, 2008 with the purpose of studying advanced ignition techniques.<ref name="Timeline LLE 08">"OMEGA EP Laser Dedication" https://www.lle.rochester.edu/media/about/timeline/25_Timeline_2008_09.pdf</ref>
It hosts four [[National Ignition Facility|NIF]]-like laser beams, each capable of delivering up to 1.6 kilojoules of energy, as well as a new target chamber. Two of the beams possess pulse compression gratings allowing for pulses as short as 1 picosecond.<ref>{{cite conference |first1=L. J. |last1=Waxer |first2=M. J. |last2=Guardalben |first3=J. H. |last3=Kelly |first4=B. E. |last4=Krushwitz |first5=J. |last5=Qiao |first6=I. A. |last6=Begishev |title=The OMEGA EP high-energy, short-pulse laser system |conference=Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics |location=San Jose, CA, USA |date=2008 |isbn=978-1-55752-859-9 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4572355}}</ref>
The laser is housed inside a 2005 building addition.

While OMEGA EP normally operates separately from OMEGA, its two short-pulse beams can also be combined and directed into the OMEGA target chamber, in addition to OMEGA's 60 existing beams. The high power of these beams combined with their ability to be independently timed enables integrated [[Inertial confinement fusion#fast ignition|fast-ignition]] experiments, in which the OMEGA laser compresses a spherical target full of fusion fuel and then OMEGA EP drives a beam of electrons into its center, kick-starting [[burning plasma|thermonuclear burn]].  The combination of the OMEGA and the OMEGA EP laser systems makes LLE the world's only fully integrated cryogenic fast ignition experimental facility.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=C. |last1=Stoeckl |first2=K. S. |last2=Anderson |first3=R. |last3=Betti |first4=T. R. |last4=Boehly |first5=J. A. |last5=Delettrez |first6=J. A. |last6=Frenje |title=Fast-ignition target design and experimental-concept validation on OMEGA |journal=Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion |volume=50 |page=124044 |date=2008 |issue=12 |doi=10.1088/0741-3335/50/12/124044 |bibcode=2008PPCF...50l4044S }}</ref>