The Anonymous Widower

National Ignition Facility Achieves Fusion Ignition

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

This is the introductory paragraph.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced the achievement of fusion ignition at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) — a major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power. On Dec. 5, a team at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history to reach this milestone, also known as scientific energy breakeven, meaning it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it. This first-of-its-kind feat will provide unprecedented capability to support NNSA’s Stockpile Stewardship Program and will provide invaluable insights into the prospects of clean fusion energy, which would be a game-changer for efforts to achieve President Biden’s goal of a net-zero carbon economy.

BBC Radio Five is giving the story a high profile.

The breakthrough is also featured in this article on The Telegraph, which is entitled Nuclear Fusion: Scientists Announce Major Breakthrough That ‘Could Bring Limitless Clean Energy’.

I am 75 and ever since my teens there have been regular stories about limitless fusion energy.

But the history of nuclear fusion seems to be a continuing tale of one step forward and four steps back.

I can remember ZETA at Harwell, being announced with a similar fanfare in 1957.

December 13, 2022 - Posted by AnonW | Energy | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Nuclear Fusion, Research, Science, United States