Since the early 1970s, NIF has been working closely with optics manufacturers like Zygo Corporation and specialist glassmaker SCHOTT to fine-tune and supply replacement parts, as well as debris and blast shields.

Following December’s successful experiment, the next challenge for NIF and its partners will be to further improve tech in order to replicate and improve the reaction.

Mike Farrell hopes the step forward may help foster support for further research. “The experiment changed scientific opinion. Ignition was always thought of as almost unattainable, [or something that might only happen] 40 years in the future. The result in December was eye-opening.”

Back in Freiburg, Diamond Materials hopes to be able to invest more time into research. “About 20% of our team is involved in research and us two managing directors are also physicists,” says Mr Wild.

“Research at the level we produce requires a lot of resources and we can’t neglect production. So we will probably continue to grow the team. After all, the research of today leads to the products of tomorrow.”