NIF Contract Funds Zygo Expansion

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has contracted with Zygo Corp. of Middlefield, Conn., as a primary supplier of large plano optical components for the National Ignition Facility (NIF).
Zygo's contract, currently funded to more than $5 million, covers designing, manufacturing and equipping an optical fabrication facility. It also provides for an additional $5 million that may be funded in the next fiscal year. The company has already begun work on the 35,500-sq-ft addition.
Bill Hogan, NIF senior scientist, said several other companies are developing optics and manufacturing processes related to the energy facility, and the lab expects to sign more contracts for facilities this year. Eastman Kodak, Tinsley Laboratories and Corning Incorporated are among those involved in process development contracts.