Laser-induced Nuclear fusion creates energy milestone

Scientists have tried for decades to generate more energy through a fusion reaction than it took to make the reaction. They accomplished just that at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility.

Scientists at the Northern California lab announced they found a way to compress fuel from two heavier forms of hydrogen with lasers to start a nuclear fusion reaction.

This is a great leap forward because fusion of hydrogen and helium atoms creates significant fusion. Hydrogen is readily available in seawater and other natural sources. This means non-nuclear fusion can take place producing no radioactive waste or greenhouse effects and dangerous byproducts while still producing more energy than it uses. That net gain can power cities and meet future energy needs.

“That’s a major turning point in our minds,” said Omar Hurricane, lead author of a paper describing the results, published in Nature today.

Scientists at the Livermore lab have been trying to achieve this since 2009. Congress had set a 2012 deadline for achieving results but extended the deadline. Experiments finally hit the mark in fall 2013 with results announced on Wednesday, Feb. 12

Laser-induced fusion means clean energy. Scientists must build on the breakthrough with actionable, real world demonstrations of new, clean fusion energy on a larger scale. Only then will the world see energy benefits from these initial efforts.