The solar rays are picked up by a first set of steerable mirrors located on the slope, and then sent to a second series of mirrors (the concentrators), placed in a parabola and eventually converging on a circular target, 40 cm in diameter, on top of the central tower.

Equivalent to concentrating the energy of "10,000 suns", the solar furnace produces a peak power of 1000 kW.

The high temperature materials division use the furnace to evaluate radome survival during MIRV warhead earth re-entry along with investigating other material properties under the "high energy thermal radiation environment" frequently produced by "nuclear devices".

Their aim was to melt ore and extract highly pure materials for making new and improved refractories.

To achieve this objective and test the various possibilities, a first solar furnace was built at Mont-Louis in 1949.