Edward Hohenstein, Emma McBride and Caterina Vernieri study what happens to molecules hit by light, recreate extreme states of matter like those inside stars and planets, and search for new physics phenomena at the most fundamental level.

Siegfried Glenzer's team and collaborators from Tel Aviv University are working on a method that could make proton accelerators 100 times smaller without giving up any of their power.

The SLAC scientists will each receive $2.5 million for their research on fusion energy and advanced radiofrequency technology.

The approach could advance our understanding of fundamental forces under extreme conditions with applications from astrophysics to fusion research.