US scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California have achieved a net energy gain in fusion for the second time since December 2022.
This announcement marks another important step towards the long sought-after goal of harnessing fusion energy.
The experiment was conducted at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), where researchers used lasers to fuse two light atoms into a denser atom, releasing energy.
This process, known as fusion ignition, produces an energy output of 3.15 megajoules after the laser has delivered 2.05 megajoules to the target. In simpler terms, the experiment produces more energy than it consumes, a feat elusive in fusion research for decades. The first successful fusion ignition was achieved on December 5, 2022, when LLNL scientists demonstrated a net energy gain in a laser fusion experiment.
This historic achievement was hailed by the US Department of Energy as a "decade of great scientific progress", paving the way for advancements in defense and the future of clean energy.
Fusion energy, which powers the sun and stars, has been sought by scientists for nearly a century for its ability to provide vast amounts of clean energy. Unlike nuclear fission, which splits atoms to produce energy and leaves radioactive waste, fusion fuses atoms together, producing energy without a product. toxic side effects or risk of fusion. In addition, fuel for fusion is abundant and easily accessible, as it is found in seawater. While this recent achievement marks an important milestone in fusion research, the scientists warn that there is still a long way to go before fusion energy can be commercially viable. Current experiments can only be conducted about once a day due to the need to cool the laser and replace the fuel target. A commercially viable smelter should perform this process several times per second.
Despite these challenges, repeated success in achieving net energy gains in fusion reactions moves us one step closer to realizing the dream of clean, unlimited energy. term. As research continues, the hope is that fusion energy will play a key role in combating climate change and powering our future.
