What starts as this:
Ends up as this:
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 ...
Sure but I think they need two od fashion nuclear reactors go power the later. Just kidding.
“What, you mean you don’t want for earth to join the club of formerly inhabited planets ...
I either jumped threads or got lost.
The planets were once inhabited by aliens. Their civilizations survived until one of their scientists performed a high energy physics experiment that accidentally destroyed their world.
I wonder if they get out 10 Kton of TNT energy, which is greater than the 1.9 MJ, would be deemed a success.
Yea, I’m kinda opposed to that.
Real energy breakthrough: fracking, horizontal drilling. Likely breakthrough: cheap battery storage to enable wind and solar. Fusion, nuclear to be laboratory curiosities.
Yeah, they would loudly proclaim it to be a victory, even if it isn’t.
It is sarcasm. It is a hackneyed joke from fifty years ago, and from every year since then.
Yes, I knew that. I should have put the s/ mark down.
I remember the break throughs 45-50 years ago and the “experts saying 30 years ago, fusion energy would soon be availalbe for close to a zero price.
Sure ya did.
I kind of like the earth as it is... it’s where I keep all my stuff.
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