TAU Systems, a developer of ultra-fast compact laser-plasma accelerators, has raised $20 million in seed funding, bringing its total raised to $35 million. The funding round enables TAU Systems to open its privately owned and operated laser-particle accelerator, in Carlsbad, Calif., and to begin work with its first customer — a major satellite manufacturing company, TAU said. The center, called TAU Labs, will be available for commercial customers as well as public institutions. First applications will focus on radiation testing for space electronics and other environments as well as additional applications using ultrahigh power laser, electron, or x-ray beams. TAU Systems is a developer of miniaturized laser-driven particle accelerators. Courtesy of TAU Systems. TAU’s technology aims to support applications across advanced imaging, materials science, and high-energy physics. The company's goal is to create a commercially viable, compact, and cost-effective accelerator capable of delivering beams that previously required massive, billion-dollar infrastructure. The recent funding will also support the company’s upcoming research programs with partners including Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, laying the groundwork for real-world use cases in radiation-testing-as-a-service, semiconductor metrology, biomedical imaging, and materials testing, the company said. The round was led by Quantonation, with participation from original seed investor, Team Global. Other participating parties include Alumni Ventures, Impact Ventures, UT Seed Fund, and a group of private investors.