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US researchers announce historic nuclear fusion breakthrough
US researchers announce historic nuclear fusion breakthrough
Lucie Aubourg,
Agence France-Presse
Published Dec 14, 2022 06:30 AM PHT
WASHINGTON, United States - US researchers announced a historic nuclear fusion breakthrough on Tuesday, hailing a "landmark achievement" in the quest for a source of unlimited, clean power and an end to reliance on fossil fuels.
WASHINGTON, United States - US researchers announced a historic nuclear fusion breakthrough on Tuesday, hailing a "landmark achievement" in the quest for a source of unlimited, clean power and an end to reliance on fossil fuels.
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) said it had used the world's largest laser to create, for the first time, a fusion reaction that replicated the process that powers the sun and generated more energy than it took to produce -– a goal pursued by scientists for decades.
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) said it had used the world's largest laser to create, for the first time, a fusion reaction that replicated the process that powers the sun and generated more energy than it took to produce -– a goal pursued by scientists for decades.
BREAKING NEWS: This is an announcement that has been decades in the making.
On December 5, 2022 a team from DOE's @Livermore_Lab made history by achieving fusion ignition.
This breakthrough will change the future of clean power and America’s national defense forever. pic.twitter.com/hFHWbmCNQJ
— U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY) December 13, 2022
BREAKING NEWS: This is an announcement that has been decades in the making.
— U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY) December 13, 2022
On December 5, 2022 a team from DOE's @Livermore_Lab made history by achieving fusion ignition.
This breakthrough will change the future of clean power and America’s national defense forever. pic.twitter.com/hFHWbmCNQJ
Nuclear fusion has been touted by its supporters as a clean, abundant and safe source of energy that could eventually allow humanity to break its dependence on coal, crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons driving a global climate crisis.
Nuclear fusion has been touted by its supporters as a clean, abundant and safe source of energy that could eventually allow humanity to break its dependence on coal, crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons driving a global climate crisis.
The US Department of Energy described the achievement of fusion ignition as a "major scientific breakthrough" that will lead to "advancements in national defense and the future of clean power."
The US Department of Energy described the achievement of fusion ignition as a "major scientific breakthrough" that will lead to "advancements in national defense and the future of clean power."
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However, there is still a long way to go before fusion is viable on an industrial scale, providing power to homes and businesses.
However, there is still a long way to go before fusion is viable on an industrial scale, providing power to homes and businesses.
"There are very significant hurdles, not just in the science but in technology," Kim Budil, the LLNL director, said at a press conference.
"There are very significant hurdles, not just in the science but in technology," Kim Budil, the LLNL director, said at a press conference.
"A few decades of research on the underlying technologies could put us in a position to build a power plant," she said.
"A few decades of research on the underlying technologies could put us in a position to build a power plant," she said.
The LLNL, which is based in California, said a team at its National Ignition Facility had achieved what is known as "net energy gain" in an experiment this month, producing more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it.
The LLNL, which is based in California, said a team at its National Ignition Facility had achieved what is known as "net energy gain" in an experiment this month, producing more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it.
"They shot a bunch of lasers at a pellet of fuel and more energy was released from that fusion ignition than the energy of the lasers," explained White House science advisor Arati Prabhakar.
"They shot a bunch of lasers at a pellet of fuel and more energy was released from that fusion ignition than the energy of the lasers," explained White House science advisor Arati Prabhakar.
On December 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. pic.twitter.com/Z0MA5YrphP
— Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (@Livermore_Lab) December 13, 2022
On December 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. pic.twitter.com/Z0MA5YrphP
— Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (@Livermore_Lab) December 13, 2022
More developments needed
For the experiment, researchers at LLNL used 192 ultra-powerful lasers to deliver 2.05 megajoules of energy to a tiny capsule smaller than a pea containing isotopes of hydrogen.
For the experiment, researchers at LLNL used 192 ultra-powerful lasers to deliver 2.05 megajoules of energy to a tiny capsule smaller than a pea containing isotopes of hydrogen.
It produced 3.15 megajoules of fusion energy output.
It produced 3.15 megajoules of fusion energy output.
While the result was a net energy gain, 300 megajoules of energy was needed from the electrical grid to power the lasers.
While the result was a net energy gain, 300 megajoules of energy was needed from the electrical grid to power the lasers.
"Our calculations suggest that it's possible with a laser system at scale to achieve hundreds of megajoules of yield," Budil said.
"Our calculations suggest that it's possible with a laser system at scale to achieve hundreds of megajoules of yield," Budil said.
"So there is a pathway to a target that produces enough yield, but we're very distant from that right now."
"So there is a pathway to a target that produces enough yield, but we're very distant from that right now."
Nuclear power plants around the world currently use fission -- the splitting of a heavy atom's nucleus -- to produce energy.
Nuclear power plants around the world currently use fission -- the splitting of a heavy atom's nucleus -- to produce energy.
Fusion on the other hand combines two light hydrogen atoms to form one heavier helium atom, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.
Fusion on the other hand combines two light hydrogen atoms to form one heavier helium atom, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.
That's the process that occurs inside stars, including our sun.
That's the process that occurs inside stars, including our sun.
On Earth, fusion reactions can be provoked by heating hydrogen to extreme temperatures inside specialized devices.
On Earth, fusion reactions can be provoked by heating hydrogen to extreme temperatures inside specialized devices.
Like fission, fusion is carbon-free during operation, but has many more advantages: it poses no risk of nuclear disaster and produces much less radioactive waste.
Like fission, fusion is carbon-free during operation, but has many more advantages: it poses no risk of nuclear disaster and produces much less radioactive waste.
Other nuclear fusion projects are also in development around the world, including the major international project known as ITER, which is currently under construction in France.
Other nuclear fusion projects are also in development around the world, including the major international project known as ITER, which is currently under construction in France.
Instead of lasers, ITER will use a technique known as magnetic confinement, containing a swirling mass of fusing hydrogen plasma within a massive donut-shaped chamber.
Instead of lasers, ITER will use a technique known as magnetic confinement, containing a swirling mass of fusing hydrogen plasma within a massive donut-shaped chamber.
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© Agence France-Presse
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