NIF achieves partial nuclear fusion
OCT 21, 2010
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.024766
IB Times : The National Ignition Facility has achieved fusion on a small scale: On 29 September, scientists fired 192 laser beams on a tiny frozen hydrogen pelletencased in a tiny plastic pellet at the center of a 30-foot-diametral metal sphereand produced the fusion of some tritium and deuterium atoms. The experiment was deliberately scaled back, with less-than-perfect fuel in the middle and the lasers at only 75% of their capacity, to avoid creating a situation the experimenters could not control. The team plans to make integrated shots about once a month, with a progressive increase of power, to successfully realize fusion within the next two years.
© 2010 American Institute of Physics
