NIF Target Innovator Abbas Nikroo Honored by FPA

Nikroo recognized for decades of leadership in scientific and management of target development for ignition at the National Ignition Facility

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:23pm

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Abbas Nikroo, deputy director for physics integration at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's (LLNL) National Ignition Facility (NIF), received the 2025 Distinguished Career Award by Fusion Power Associates (FPA) for his "outstanding decades of unwavering commitment and leadership in scientific and management of the development and reliable production of ultra-precision components and targets to enable ignition on NIF." This is Nikroo's second FPA award, having received the FPA Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award in 2003.

Why it matters

Nikroo's leadership in target fabrication was a key factor in achieving the first ignition at NIF in 2022. His work in boosting production efficiency, enabling innovative target designs, and improving capsule quality helped overcome impediments to better implosions and ultimately enabled the historic ignition breakthrough.

The details

Nikroo began working in target fabrication in 1993 when NIF was in its planning stages. After graduate school, he joined a General Atomics group building targets, finding the work compelling. He later transitioned to LLNL in 2015 to bring efficiencies to production and improve target quality. Nikroo also led development of a plutonium target fabrication capability inside LLNL's "Superblock" facility, adding complexity to an already extremely challenging process.

  • Nikroo received the FPA Distinguished Career Award in 2025.
  • Nikroo previously received the FPA Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award in 2003.
  • NIF achieved the first ignition breakthrough in December 2022.

The players

Abbas Nikroo

Deputy director for physics integration at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's (LLNL) National Ignition Facility (NIF).

Fusion Power Associates (FPA)

An organization that honors individuals for their contributions to the development of fusion energy.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)

A U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that operates the National Ignition Facility (NIF).

General Atomics

A company that collaborated with LLNL on building targets for the NIF.

Diamond Materials

A German company that fabricates the fuel capsules for the NIF targets.

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What they’re saying

“I'm honored to receive this award. It's very rewarding to be recognized by FPA again after receiving an early career award over 20 years ago. This puts my whole career in perspective, from learning how to make effective targets in the early years at General Atomics to the breakthroughs while at LLNL in capsule quality that led to the first ignition achievement in 2022.”

— Abbas Nikroo

What’s next

Nikroo will continue to serve as the deputy director for physics integration at LLNL's National Ignition Facility, overseeing the ongoing development and production of targets to support the facility's research and ignition efforts.

The takeaway

Nikroo's career journey from a graduate student in experimental physics to a leading expert in target fabrication for the National Ignition Facility highlights the critical role of engineering and materials science in enabling groundbreaking scientific achievements. His dedication and innovative problem-solving were instrumental in the historic ignition breakthrough at NIF.