FPN13-55

Progress at NIF

November 14, 2013

Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have been carrying out a series of detailed physics experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) trying to understand the reasons that have prevented the achievement of fusion ignition. In a recent such experiment, a fusion capsule was designed to study implosion of the fusion fuel at less than ignition conditions, although the full energy and power of NIF's 192 laser beams was employed.

In the experiment on September 28, a good spherical implosion in agreement with computer simulations produced 14 kilojoules of fusion energy when only 10 kilojoules of laser energy had been deposited in the fuel. This is the first time more fusion energy has been produced compared to the energy deposited in the compressed fuel assembly. The data from this and other experiments is providing the necessary knowledge for later experiments aimed at achieving ignition, defined as when as much fusion energy is produced as is delivered by the entire set of NIF laser beams (approximately 1.8 Megajoules).

A more complete perspective on the result has been posted by University of Rochester scientists Bob McCrory and Riccardo Betti on the Physics Today online site:

http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/magazine/physicstoday/news/10.1063/pt.5.2004

and can also be accessed via http://fire.pppl.gov

The latest NIF results and other fusion progress from around the world will be presented at Fusion Power Associates 34th annual meeting and symposium, Fusion Energy: Visions of the Future, December 10-11, in Washington, DC. For the agenda and registration information contact fusionpwrassoc@aol.com