Scientists at Lawrence Livermore Repeat Fusion Ignition Breakthrough for 2nd Time

Published by Jean Jarvaise

August 7, 2023 11:58 pm

Scientists at Lawrence Livermore Repeat Fusion Ignition

Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have repeated their historic achievement of fusion ignition, producing more energy from a fusion reaction than was put in for the second time.

The experiment, conducted on July 30, 2023, used the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to focus 192 lasers on a target of hydrogen isotopes. The lasers compressed the target to a density about 100 times that of lead, and the resulting fusion reaction produced 1.3 megajoules of energy. This is about 70% more energy than was produced in the first ignition experiment, which was conducted in December 2022.

The repeated success of fusion ignition is a major milestone in the development of fusion power. Fusion is a process that powers the sun and stars, and it has the potential to provide a clean and abundant source of energy for Earth.

The NIF experiment is still under analysis, but the results so far suggest that fusion ignition is becoming more efficient. This is a positive sign for the future of fusion power, as it suggests that it may be possible to achieve net energy gain from fusion reactions in the near future.

Net energy gain is the point at which a fusion reaction produces more energy than is needed to initiate it. This is a critical milestone for fusion power, as it would make fusion reactors self-sustaining.

The repeated success of fusion ignition at the NIF is a major step towards achieving net energy gain. It is also a sign that fusion power is becoming a more viable option for the future of energy.

The scientists at LLNL are continuing to work on improving the efficiency of fusion ignition. They are also working on developing new designs for fusion reactors that could be used to generate electricity on a commercial scale.

The successful repeated ignition of fusion at the NIF is a major breakthrough for the field of fusion research. It is a sign that fusion power is becoming a more realistic option for the future of energy.