Title: World’s Largest Private Laser Activated by Fusion Pioneer Xcimer Energy

Fusion technology firm Xcimer Energy officially powered up its Phoenix laser system on Wednesday, marking the activation of what the company claims is the most powerful privately held laser in existence. The startup’s methodology mirrors the approach taken by the National Ignition Facility (NIF), which demonstrated in December 2022 that a controlled nuclear fusion reaction can yield more energy than is needed to trigger it.

In the NIF experiment, 192 laser beams were directed at a fuel target smaller than the eraser on a pencil. The lasers struck a gold casing, and as the gold was vaporized, the energy transformed into X-rays. These X-rays were then concentrated onto a fuel pellet within the target, compressing it to the point where atomic nuclei fused, releasing energy. Xcimer Energy is wagering that by utilizing lasers that are both more potent and less intricate, it can transform the NIF’s proof-of-concept into a commercially viable and profitable energy source.

According to the company’s roadmap for a fusion power station, the design relies on two lasers capable of emitting pulses lasting microseconds. A compression mechanism would then channel the energy from these pulses to the fuel target within nanoseconds. Xcimer notes that accelerating the compression process increases the probability of achieving useful fusion reactions.

The Phoenix system represents a significant milestone on the path to a functioning power plant. It utilizes excimer amplification technology, akin to systems found in semiconductor manufacturing, but with substantially higher output. Xcimer told TechCrunch that at full capacity, the krypton-fluoride laser produces over one kilojoule of energy, with a core measuring 38 meters in length.

Despite being the most powerful privately owned laser to date, this output remains a small fraction of the requirements for a commercial plant. The company estimates that a future commercial facility will need to exceed 12 megajoules. Xcimer aims to finish a prototype by 2028, followed by the development of a larger system designed to achieve net energy gain—producing as much power as it consumes. The firm plans to construct its first commercial-scale power plant in the mid-2030s.

Source: TechCrunch Generated at: 2026-06-03 10:00:00 UTC