U.S. to announce fusion energy ‘breakthrough’
- Thread starter BMD
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Fusion energy breakthrough by US scientists boosts clean power hopes
Net energy gain indicates technology could provide an abundant zero-carbon alternative to fossil fuels
We do the same thing with the Megajoule Laser: we need an 85,000 m2 building that is difficult to use in space, we manage to have a fusion energy that is greater than the laser energy that is concentrated on the target, but much less than the electrical energy needed to create this laser energy, and on top of that, the cryogenic deuterium/lithium target in a solid state with an almost perfect surface state costs one million euros.
It is a high-energy physics instrument but not a system that can produce energy cost-effectively today.
I think they have actually managed to exceed the pumping energy of the laser though, not just the output. The question remains as to whether the 120% is electrical energy or raw thermal energy.
The laser should not be too large relative to a heavy launcher. Zenith Star would have produced 2MW (2MJ/s) on a 39 ton satellite and once you get the reaction going the reaction can power the laser.
US scientists repeat fusion ignition breakthrough for 2nd time
U.S. scientists have achieved net energy gain in a fusion reaction for the second time since December, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory said on Sunday.