National Ignition Facility
The world's largest laser-based inertial confinement fusion facility, used for nuclear weapons physics research and fusion energy experiments; in 2022 it achieved fusion net energy gain for the first time.
Timeline (last 90 days)
In December 2022, the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the United States achieved net energy gain from controlled nuclear fusion (Q>1) for the first time, with laser input of about 2.05 megajoules and fusion output of about 3.15 megajoules.
Net energy gain from controlled nuclear fusion (Q>1) means the energy released by the fusion reaction exceeds the energy consumed to sustain the reaction, i.e., scientific energy breakeven; however, the 2022 National Ignition Facility result is only a gain from laser to fusion energy, and when full-system energy consumption is included, it remains very far from engineering feasibility.
All Facts (2)
In December 2022, the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the United States achieved net energy gain from controlled nuclear fusion (Q>1) for the first time, with laser input of about 2.05 megajoules and fusion output of about 3.15 megajoules.
50%UnverifiedNet energy gain from controlled nuclear fusion (Q>1) means the energy released by the fusion reaction exceeds the energy consumed to sustain the reaction, i.e., scientific energy breakeven; however, the 2022 National Ignition Facility result is only a gain from laser to fusion energy, and when full-system energy consumption is included, it remains very far from engineering feasibility.
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