How fusion ignition works (the National Ignition Facility)

Process map by Brian. 16 steps, 2 layers. Tags: science, tech, energy.

1. 192 laser beams: Fire 192 laser beams into a gold cylinder
2. The hohlraum: It glows with X-rays
3. The fuel capsule: The X-rays squeeze a pellet of hydrogen fuel
4. The fuel capsule: Crush it to a tiny, extremely dense and hot point
5. The fuel capsule: Do the nuclei get close enough to fuse?
6. The fuel capsule: Fusion releases more energy than the hot spot lost
7. Scientists: Compare the energy out with the energy the lasers delivered
8. Scientists: More out than in?
9. Scientists: December 2022: about 3.15 megajoules out for 2.05 in
10. Scientists: But making the laser light took far more power: this is not yet a power plant
11. Scientists: Improve and shoot again
12. Scientists: A fizzle: not hot or dense enough

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