The fusion facility at the Lawrence-Livermore Laboratory Source: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Global warming exists and is here to stay. In order to deal with the continuous increase in temperatures and its severe effects on our lives, whether directly or indirectly, there is a significant need to find ways to produce “clean” energy – such as nuclear fusion. The problem is that until today the process has not been able to produce enough energy to be considered as a possible energy source. Up to now.
A small ball and the biggest laser in the world
Scientists at a US government research facility in California have for the first time succeeded in completing a process of nuclear fusion that would produce an excess of energy. This is an achievement that could be the first step towards a future where fusion-based power plants will be established – which many consider to be the “holy grail” of clean energy, in the absence of carbon dioxide emissions in its production process.
The researchers at the Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory use a method called inertial confinement fusion, which is a method of producing energy that includes heating a ball of hydrogen plasma with a nova – the largest laser in the world that reaches a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius.
Sources familiar with the carrier and who spoke to media in the United States said that an orderly announcement will be made in the next day. According to these sources, the successful experiment took place in the last two weeks, during which the scientists managed to produce 2.5 megajoules of energy. The output they managed to produce is equivalent to about 120% of the total energy that was necessary to carry out the fusion – 2.1 megajoules.
The facility where the scientists achieved this impressive feat was built at a cost of 3.5 billion dollars and was not intended at all – at least not initially – for nuclear fusion experiments. It was actually established as a facility where nuclear weapons are tested by simulating explosions that can occur after dropping such weapons. Last year, the scientists working at the facility managed to produce 1.37 megajoules – and almost reached the current achievement – even though the facility was operating at 70% of its maximum power. Now, they were able to do this with the laser at full power and producing a greater amount of energy.
Although the case was reported by several government sources to the media abroad, the Lawrence-Livermore Laboratory confirmed that they had indeed achieved an achievement. However, they noted in the message they published to the media that “the initial information indicates another successful experiment. However, the exact output is still being tested and we cannot confirm that it has crossed the threshold (of excess energy production).” According to the sources who reported the success, the energy output from the process exceeded all predictions and it is possible that as part of the process some of the monitoring equipment was damaged, and therefore at the research facility Refrain from officially announcing the numbers yet.
Today (Tuesday) the official announcement of the achievement of the American team is expected by senior government officials, including the American Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and the Under-Minister dealing with nuclear energy – Jill Harubi.