U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,181,837 in federal funding for The University of Rochester (UR). The funding was allocated through the National Science Foundation (NSF) and will be used to develop a High Amperage Driver for Extreme States (HADES). The driver will produce and allow scientists to explore matter at the extreme pressures common to the deep interiors of planets and stars throughout the galaxy.
“The University of Rochester is a leader in scientific research and innovation. This is a key federal investment to allow UR to grow types of work that will be done at Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). This is laying the foundation for UR to use the expertise of the Laser Lab’s researchers to now develop a ‘High Amperage Driver for Extreme States’ to more effectively generate electricity,” said Senator Schumer. “I will continue to fight for these types of federal programs that invest in STEM, New York’s students, and institutions that pave the way for the technology of the future.”
“The University of Rochester is at the forefront of innovation, and this grant from the NSF will help this institution continue to lead in the fields of science and discovery,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I will continue to do everything I can to support these groundbreaking programs in our state.”
The University of Rochester’s Laser Laboratory, working in connection with other world-class institutions, will use this federal investment to develop a High Amperage Driver for Extreme States (HADES). HADES can generate power equivalent to hundreds of electrical power plants in a fraction of a second, requiring very little energy to produce matter under extreme pressure. HADES’ novel design combines an efficient architecture with a compact footprint, packing this extreme power in a device slightly bigger than an automobile. The development of HADES will foster new talent in physics and engineering, keeping the U.S. at the forefront of fundamental science and discovery.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 48,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $626 million in professional and service contracts yearly.