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Physics

Nuclear fusion: Has there been a breakthrough and what will it mean?

Rumours suggest the US National Ignition Facility has made a significant advance in nuclear fusion, though there are still many hurdles to overcome

By Matthew Sparkes

12 December 2022

NIF Livermore July 2008 https://lasers.llnl.gov/media/photo-gallery?id=nif-1209-18050 — The lasers of the National Ignition Facility in California
Philip Saltonstall

A nuclear fusion reactor has reportedly created more energy than was put into it, for the first time ever. If the experimental results are confirmed, it will prove that fusion is a viable way to meet the planet’s growing energy demands by replicating the reaction that has been occurring at the heart of our sun for billions of years – with some caveats.

National Ignition Facility

Update: Nuclear fusion researchers have achieved historic energy milestone

A controlled fusion reaction has generated more energy than was put into the system for the first time, bringing viable fusion power another step closer to reality

…

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Artists concept view of the interior of the ITER reaction vessel. Nuclear fusion involves creating a plasma of superheated gas to temperatures of more than 200 million degrees C, conditions hot enough to force deuterium and tritium atoms to fuse together and release energy. Fusion takes place inside a 'Tokamak' torus within a giant magnetic field, the only way to contain the heat generated. The ITER reactor is designed to produce 500 MW, 10 times more energy than it consumes. Nuclear fusion is the joining (fusing) of light elements to form heavier elements, which releases large amounts of energy. It is hoped that fusion will be a clean, renewable energy source for the future. Nuclear fusion is the joining (fusing) of light elements to form heavier elements, which releases large amounts of energy. It is hoped that fusion will be a clean, renewable energy source for the future.

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