Nuclear energy is a form of energy that is released from the nucleus of atoms. It is produced through two main processes: fission and fusion. In fission, the nuclei of atoms are split into smaller parts, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. This is the process used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity. In fusion, the nuclei of atoms are fused together, releasing a large amount of energy.
On 05.12.2022 researchers at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California achieved a significant milestone in the field of nuclear fusion research by demonstrating “fusion ignition” for the first time. Fusion ignition is when a fusion reaction produces more energy than is being put into the reaction from an outside source and becomes self-sustaining.
The previous record of energy gain was around 0.7, which means that for every 1 unit of energy put into the reaction, only 0.7 units of energy were released. It is a major breakthrough in decades in the field of nuclear fusion research. The NIF’s method of using laser-induced implosion to compress and heat hydrogen isotopes to the point where they fuse releases a large amount of energy in the process.
While the achievement of fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility is an important proof of concept, the technology is still in the experimental phase and there is still a lot of research and development that needs to be done before it can be considered a practical and safe energy source available for commercial use.
One of the main challenges is to develop a way to contain the extremely hot plasma created during the fusion process to harness the energy produced. Currently, the NIF uses powerful lasers to compress and heat hydrogen isotopes to the point where they fuse, but this method is not yet efficient enough to produce and store energy due to many additional losses in energy during the process of creating and stabilising the environment where the reaction takes place.
There is also a problem with obtaining the elements needed to conduct this reaction. While some of the hydrogen isotopes can be found in nature without problems like Deuterium – which can be gathered from water, Tritium is much more difficult to get, mainly because it rarely appears in nature and usually is actually obtained as a byproduct of nuclear reactors operation.
The achievement of fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility is an important step forward in nuclear fusion research. However, it is still a long way from being widely used as a practical energy source. Nuclear fusion is considered a promising source of energy because it has the potential to be clean, safe, and virtually limitless. However, the technology still faces many challenges, including developing a way to contain the byproducts of the fusion process, as well as finding a cost-effective way to achieve and maintain the high temperatures and pressures required for the fusion process.
Resources:
https://www.llnl.gov/news/national-ignition-facility-achieves-fusion-ignition