America's Most Powerful Laser System: Xcimer Energy Advances Fusion Breakthrough with Federal Leadership Support

Federal officials tour Denver facility as prototype nears completion; commercialization timeline locked in

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Congressman Gabe Evans of Colorado visited Xcimer Energy’s Denver research facility this week to witness firsthand the company’s progress toward commercializing laser fusion technology. The high-profile visit underscored growing federal backing for the Denver-based fusion startup, which recently achieved a critical testing milestone with one of the world’s highest-energy KrF lasers.

The company has finished assembling the primary optical component for its prototype system, codenamed “Phoenix.” Testing of this cutting-edge KrF laser—among the most energetic built this century—began just days before the official visit. This laser generates the pulses needed to compress and ignite fusion fuel capsules with the precision required for controlled energy generation.

Phoenix on Track: 2026 Completion Sets Stage for Next Phase

Xcimer Energy Co-founder and CEO Conner Galloway confirmed during the briefing that the Phoenix prototype will reach full operational status by mid-2026, maintaining both schedule and budget targets. The facility tour was also attended by Colorado State University System Chancellor Dr. Tony Frank, reflecting institutional support for the venture.

With Phoenix validated, Xcimer is now advancing preparations for Vulcan—its next-generation, most powerful laser installation designed to revolutionize fusion energy delivery. Vulcan is projected to generate unprecedented laser energy outputs of up to 12 megajoules, eclipsing both France’s Laser Megajoule facility and China’s recently commissioned Mianyang fusion center.

Engineering Breakeven by 2031: Global Race for Fusion Dominance

Vulcan’s mission is unambiguous: achieve engineering breakeven from fusion reactions by 2031—a threshold that would mark humanity’s first net-positive energy gain from fusion. If successful, Xcimer’s system would represent the world’s brightest and most powerful laser platform for fusion research and commercial deployment.

Secretary Wright emphasized the strategic importance: “Fusion on our energy grid will unleash America’s full potential and help power the industries of the future. Xcimer demonstrates how private enterprise can build upon our nation’s publicly-funded breakthroughs and bring them to market—not in generations to come, but within our lifetimes.”

Rep. Evans added: “Energy dominance is essential for national security and economic strength. I’m proud of Xcimer’s commitment to leading globally in clean, safe nuclear fusion technology.”

Vulcan Site Selection Expands Across Multiple States

Xcimer is simultaneously pursuing an aggressive multistate site search to locate Vulcan’s permanent home. Colorado remains the primary contender, with Texas, New Mexico, and California also under active consideration. The selection process reflects fierce competition among states and communities seeking to host what would become a flagship hub for fusion research, advanced manufacturing, and high-tech development.

Locally, Vulcan’s establishment would create direct employment for physicists, technicians, and support personnel while catalyzing broader infrastructure investment. The facility’s presence is expected to attract complementary industries—data centers, software development, robotics manufacturing, and medical research—positioning the winning region as a next-generation clean energy innovation corridor.

Why Laser Fusion Leads America’s Energy Innovation

Laser fusion remains the only fusion approach to achieve and surpass scientific breakeven experimentally. Lawrence Livermore National Lab’s National Ignition Facility accomplished this milestone in December 2022, validating decades of research initiated by experiments at the Nevada test site in 1988.

Xcimer leverages this proven science while deploying proprietary laser architecture that dramatically reduces costs compared to solid-state systems like those at NIF. Galloway and co-founder Alexander Valys, both MIT-trained plasma physicists who previously collaborated at Los Alamos National Lab, launched the company in 2022 to accelerate commercialization.

The company now operates more than 150 employees, primarily headquartered in Denver, with additional manufacturing capabilities in Tucson, Arizona. Backed by leading climate-tech investors and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Xcimer is positioned at the forefront of the global fusion race.

As Galloway concluded: “Fusion is the last new energy source humanity will ever need. Nations, states, and counties that lead in fusion development will disproportionately benefit from the resulting economic and strategic advantages.”