The THRILL consortium is proud to announce that Jonas B. Ohland, a THRILL collaborator from the first hour, has been awarded a prestigious grant by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) under its “Fusionstalente” program. The funding will support the establishment of his own young investigator group, titled “Adaptive Laser Architecture Development and Integration” (ALADIN), launching on 1 June 2025.

Ohland’s pioneering work at the Apollon laser facility in France has rapidly shown impactful results in the field of real-time adaptive optics for high-intensity lasers. These early breakthroughs served as the foundation for the ALADIN proposal.

“I’m deeply grateful for the support from THRILL and the opportunity to continue pushing the frontiers of adaptive optics with ALADIN,” said Ohland. “This new group will allow us to turn promising first steps into robust technologies for next-generation high-intensity laser systems – especially in the context of inertial fusion energy. Our aim is to help bridge the gap between research and real-world applications in this rapidly evolving field.”

The ALADIN initiative marks a significant step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of THRILL’s impact, ensuring continuity of research and innovation beyond the project’s current scope while also highlighting THRILL’s success in nurturing scientific talent and serving as a unique expertise consortium.

For more information on Ohland’s recent work on real-time adaptive optics, please refer to the following publication:

J.B. Ohland et al., High Power Laser Sci. Eng., 2025:1-15. doi:10.1017/hpl.2025.16

About the “Fusionstalente” program by BMFTR

The Fusionstalente program, initiated by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), aims to strengthen expertise in fusion research by fostering the development of young scientific talent. It supports early-career researchers through targeted funding, training opportunities, and access to cutting-edge fusion research facilities. By investing in the next generation of fusion scientists, the program contributes to advancing sustainable and innovative energy solutions in Germany and Europe. The Fusionstalente program is part of the funding initiative “Fusion 2040 – Research on the Way to the Fusion Power Plant”.