The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced a breakthrough in nuclear fusion energy calling it a “major scientific breakthrough”
The achievement of fusion ignition was made by scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The DOE on Tuesday called it a “major scientific breakthrough” decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power.
On December 5, a team at the LLNL’s National Ignition Facility conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history to reach this milestone, also known as scientific energy breakeven, meaning it delivered more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it.
The achievement will provide invaluable insights into the prospects of clean fusion energy, which would be a game-changer for efforts to achieve a net-zero carbon economy, according to the DOE.
The breakthrough has the potential to change the future of clean energy across the world. Scientists have been working for decades to solve this problem. Finally, on December 5, 2022, Lawrence Livermore National Ignition facility made history, demonstrating fusion ignition first time in a laboratory setting. It is to be noted that fusion ignition is one of the most significant scientific challenges ever undertaken by humanity.
What is Nuclear Fusion?
Nuclear fusion occurs when two atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier nucleus. On December 5, 2022, in the laboratory, the fusion energy released during the process was greater than the laser energy delivered to the target, passing the threshold of ignition.
It will help in the future for the next step to create clean energy in the future for mass use and to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, the major contributors to the green house revolution.
