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Inertial confinement nuclear fusion ignition — NIF/LLNL

2022 AD · Transmission: Global
EnergyInventionNorth American

The National Ignition Facility obtains, for the first time, more fusion energy (3.15 MJ) than the laser energy delivered to the target (2.05 MJ): energetic Q>1. First "breakeven" in inertial fusion. Historic milestone: the physical barrier is crossed. Commercial fusion energy remains decades away.

InstitutionLawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California
Historical regionUnited States
Primary sourceZylstra, A.B. et al. — "Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion" (Nature, 2022)
Secondary sourceU.S. Department of Energy press release, December 13, 2022
Original languageEnglish
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