Gooch & Housego has been presented with a Vendor Appreciation award from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) for the supply of crystal quartz wave plates.
The wave plates, supplied by Gooch & Housego Ilminster, in the UK, are key components used in the National Ignition Facility's (NIF) laser pre-amplifier modules at LLNL.
The NIF will be used as part of the US Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration's Stockpile Stewardship programme to ensure the safety and security of the nuclear weapons stockpile. The NIF also will be used for energy, astrophysics and basic science research.
The presentation, made at Photonics West in San Jose, is the culmination of a four-year relationship between Gooch & Housego and LLNL.
Due to the nature of the National Ignition Facility at LLNL, the laser is being built to extremely exacting standards, which also extends to the products the LLNL use and the contractors they liaise with.
The award was presented to Gareth Jones of Gooch & Housego by Tom Simon, technical representative for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
