A major hurdle to producing fusion energy using lasers has been swept aside, results in a new report show.
The controlled fusion of atoms – creating conditions like those in our Sun – has long been touted as a possible revolutionary energy source.
However, there have been doubts about the use of powerful lasers for fusion energy because the “plasma” they create could interrupt the fusion.
An article in Science showed the plasma is far less of a problem than expected.
The report is based on the first experiments from the National Ignition Facility (Nif) in the US that used all 192 of its laser beams.
Along the way, the experiments smashed the record for the highest energy from a laser – by a factor of 20.
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Updates:
2:40 pm EST, January 29th, 2010 — Fusion Power a Step Closer After Giant Laser Blast
This is exciting stuff. Thanks for the link Jack.
You’re welcome. I’ve been thinking about “cold fusion” which I’ve featured before and just checked Google. Nothing new at the moment that I can find. If you know of a link perhaps you can post it here and “thanks in advance”.
You don’t happen to have any links for further information about the Nif experiments do you?
Cheers!
Re: #3 — Nothing at all. This was the first I’d heard of it.