Posted on 08/18/2021 4:13:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The National Ignition Facility uses a powerful laser to heat and compress hydrogen fuel, initiating fusion.
An experiment suggests the goal of "ignition", where the energy released by fusion exceeds that delivered by the laser, is now within touching distance.
Harnessing fusion, the process that powers the Sun, could provide a limitless, clean energy source.
In a process called inertial confinement fusion, 192 beams from NIF's laser - the highest-energy example in the world - are directed towards a peppercorn-sized capsule containing deuterium and tritium, which are different forms of the element hydrogen.
This compresses the fuel to 100 times the density of lead and heats it to 100 million degrees Celsius - hotter than the centre of the Sun. These conditions help kickstart thermonuclear fusion.
An experiment carried out on 8 August yielded 1.35 megajoules (MJ) of energy - around 70% of the laser energy delivered to the fuel capsule. Reaching ignition means getting a fusion yield that's greater than the 1.9 MJ put in by the laser.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
The future of fusion is Low Energy Nuclear Reactions.
https://freerepublic.com/tag/lenr/index?tab=articles
Was supposed to be available 2005.....
The ChiComs aren’t concerned. Even IF, they don’t have spies in the research facility, they’ll soon have the technology. The ‘Big Guy’ will ensure that they get it. All he needs is that the ChiComs ‘wet his beak’.
They ran into problems with beam shaping. That and getting 192 beams into alignment is no small task
Just 30 years away.
Sounds dangerous as hell.
In 1955 we were told we would have flying cars by 2000.
So how is the reaction supposed to continue without adding 1.21 gigawatts to the reaction at all times?
Self-sustaining fusion releasing excess energy.
In 1955 we were told we would have flying cars by 2000.
You don’t have one yet?
I’m thinking of trading mine in on one of those new
hybrid models once they have enough charging stations.
Always has been, always will be. A very stable industry, that.
Yes, using flowing liquid lithium as reflective mirrors presents some focus/accuracy issues....
Yes, I know how it is measured, but will it collapse as soon as the lasers are turned off? (Not sure I want a tiny sun to be self sustaining while on the earth.)
Maybe, but things we learn from the hot side can help with the cold side.
Answer might even be a combination of the two domains. Fusion of fusion. Who knows?
When push comes to shove, cold fusion is just hot fusion taking place in a much, much smaller cross-section under condensed matter laws of physics rather than giganticated plasma 6-degrees-of-freedom physics.
“Maybe, but things we learn from the hot side can help with the cold side. Answer might even be a combination of the two domains.”
Tepid Fusion ?
(Not to be confused with Flaccid Fusion which was just...a disappointment.)
I thought the fusion experts said that 30 years ago.
What, you mean you don't want for earth to join the club of formerly inhabited planets on which particular high-energy physics experiments were performed?
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