The National Ignition Facility (NIF) as a User Facility

The 192-beam National Ignition Facility (NIF) at LLNL is operational and conducting experiments in ICF ignition and other areas of high energy density (HED) science. The National Ignition Campaign (NIC) conducts the NIF ignition program and provides the infrastructure for operation of NIF as a user facility. NIF has made significant progress towards operation as a user facility. The NIF laser has demonstrated the necessary performance to meet the needs of the ignition program and support experiments in fundamental HED science and other areas. A versatile set of diagnostics is installed and additional diagnostics are planned. A call for proposals in fundamental science has been executed and university-led experiments are in progress. A NIF User Group is being formed. This presentation will discuss implementation of NIF as a user facility, with emphasis on activities at NIF in fundamental science and other areas carried out in addition to the NIC.