Q > 1 - Breakthrough in Nuclear Fusion Research

The breaking news, major fusion research breakthrough in US was announced by the Department of Energy (DoE) during their press conference on Dec 13.

In one of my earlier posts (https://www.hippog.org/post/power-sun-fusion-clean-energy), I mentioned scientists are seeking Nuclear Fusion as a clean, abundant, safe, and reliable energy source. A fusion energy gain factor, or Q, measuring the ratio of energy produced by fusion to the power required to ignite and maintain the fusion. The scientists on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) achieved a Q value greater than 1 (or, more accurately, 1.54) the first time in controlled fusion experiment history. I can see that the nuclear fusion scientists, including my parents, are really excited about this groundbreaking achievement as they are closer than ever before to creating man-made suns on Earth. I can imagine myself living in a nuclear powered house and driving a fusion-powered car in a very near future.

The video of the DOE press conference can now be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eke5PawU7rE and the news can be found at LLNL’s website https://www.llnl.gov/news/national-ignition-facility-achieves-fusion-ignition.