Assessing Language Models for Scientific Applications: Inertial Confinement Fusion as a Use Case
Advancing language models for specialized scientific applications requires evaluations of scientific fluency, physical reasoning, and quantitative analyses. Using inertial confinement fusion (ICF) as a test case, we have developed an expert-curated benchmark of 250 questions spanning qualitative reasoning, numerical calculation, symbolic derivation, and equation formulation. Responses have been evaluated using deterministic numerical and symbolic checks together with language-model judges. We compared a variety of out-of-the-box closed-source and open-source large language models with Prospero, a model specialized through combined domain-adaptive pretraining and supervised fine-tuning for ICF. We also conducted initial retrieval-assisted evaluations. Prospero improved its aggregate score by 10.7 percentage points over its base model, with gains across all question types. Frontier models achieved the highest aggregate scores, but critical physics errors persisted, particularly in numerical calculations. We note that domain-specific performance can improve through specialization, but benchmark gains alone do not establish scientific reliability. Retrieval improved performance for a smaller model but yielded no statistically significant improvement for a frontier model. Two scientific stress tests further illustrate useful capabilities and the need for expert assessment of physical assumptions and model validity. Based on these findings, we recommend evaluating existing domain capabilities and retrieval benefits before committing to substantial additional specialization.