In the recent NIF experiment, 3.15 megajoules (MJ) of fusion energy was produced while the lasers produced an input of 2.05MJ of laser energy into the target chamber. The ‘holy grail’ of fusion energy research One potential benefit of fusion is that the neutrons created by fusion may even be able to ‘burn up’ existing radioactive waste created by fission: solving this storage problem while creating green energy. Consequently, fission reactors are less safe as they can potentially ‘melt-down’, and the radioactive waste must be safely stored for approximately 100,000 years! Fission occurs when a heavy atom is slammed into by a neutron, forcing it to split into 2 smaller atoms. While fission is still a great yielder of energy, it produces a lesser amount compared to fusion. In reality, except for tidal power, fusion is the original source of pretty much all energy on earth!įusion should not be confused with fission. At the centre of our local star, and all stars for that matter, you’ll find extreme plasma conditions that achieve fusion. In fact, this process already occurs naturally, and we depend on a nuclear fusion reactor to bring about and sustain life: the Sun. Fusion yields a tremendous amount of energy, millions of times greater than other sources that are currently used today. We turn to Einstein’s most famous equation, E = mc 2, which tells us that if the mass of the products is less than the mass of the 2 fusing atoms, then energy will be released during the nuclear reaction.įusion is the process of fusing 2 light atoms together to form a heavier one, for example, fusing deuterium and tritium fuel atoms by slamming them together to form the neutron and the alpha particle. Though there is still some way to go to deliver fusion power generation at scale, results like this one illustrate that there is a viable route to commercial fusion energy ahead, and the UK is in pole position to build on this work towards a clean energy future. I’m proud that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy funded CLF were also able to play a part in supporting the endeavour. This is a fantastic result that proves the exceptional potential of fusion power, and the National Ignition Facility team should be congratulated on their outstanding achievement. UK Science Minister George Freeman said of the breakthrough: More importantly, however, is the fact that it paves the way for the rapid development of laser inertial fusion energy – power generation by laser fusion. It cannot be understated what a huge breakthrough this is for laser fusion research. Scientists have not been able to generate more fusion energy than was used to hold fuel in place, until now…ĭr Robbie Scott, Senior Plasma Physicist, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) CLF, and Chair of the UK Inertial Fusion Consortium, says: Huge breakthrough for laser fusion research It could also help in replacing a considerable fraction of the $3.5 trillion per year fossil fuel industry.
Fusion energy could complement renewables by filling supply-gaps and move us away from fossil fuels. The laser facility uses 192 laser beams to initiate fusion reactions, using laser driven inertial confinement fusion (laser fusion) experiments.įusion has the potential to provide a near-limitless, safe, and clean source of carbon-free energy. The National Ignition Facility (NIF), California, is a huge laser facility roughly the size of a football stadium. This international collaboration included colleagues from the UK’s Central Laser Facility (CLF) and scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
0 kommentar(er)
