The second summer school organized by the THRILL project took place from June 7 to 12 2026, in Hirschegg, in the Austrian alps. 16 participants from six European countries from institutions within and outside the THRILL consortium came together in order to explore extreme states of matter generated by high-energy lasers. Ranging from warm dense matter and laser shocks to inertial fusion energy and laboratory astrophysics, they also delved into advanced topics like nuclear photonics and laser-driven secondary radiation sources of particles and radiation.

In order to deepen the understanding of these theoretical concepts in a practical way, the lectures were directly paired with hands-on sessions in hydrodynamical simulations, analysis of real data images, or contained interactive derivations of laser-driven electron acceleration mechanisms as well as scaling principles that make astrophysical processes accessible in the laboratory. Ultimately, this comprehensive training culminated in an introduction to proposal writing, empowering the participants to translate their new knowledge into conceptually designing and pitching their own future experiments at a high-energy laser facility.

Complementing the scientific program, the participants could enjoy the beautiful setting in the mountains, where indoor and outdoor activities during the breaks brought the group closer together, enhancing the exchange between the participants.