Nuclear fusion clean energy breakthrough

Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Ignition Facility in California have been able to produce more energy from a fusion reaction than is required to power it — the milestone known as net energy gain


HOHLRAUM: Hollow gold cylinder

LASERS: Up to 192 fired into hohlraum in 2.1 megajoule burst

Gold absorbs UV energy, radiates x-rays


FUEL CAPSULE
Plastic sphere with 150 micrograms of fuel

2mm diameter

Spherical isothermic core between -253 ̊C to -255 ̊C

1 X-rays superheat surface of fuel capsule, forming plasma envelope

2 Fuel core compressed by rocket-like blowoff of hot surface

3 Fuel core density exceeds 1,000 times initial density, reaches 100 million ̊C

Frozen deuterium and tritium fuel on inside wall

Thermonuclear ignition

2.5 megajoule output

4 Fusion of tritium and deuterium atoms faster than sphere can fly apart


Source: U.S. National Ignition Facility 
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