'Triumph Of Science': US Department Of Energy Lab Achieves Fusion Ignition

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced on Tuesday the achievement of fusion ignition, which sets the stage for the future of clean energy.

What Happened: The DOE and NNSA achieved fusion ignition by conducting the first controlled fusion experiment in history at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) on Dec. 5, according to a statement from the DOE.

The experiment produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it, also known as scientific energy breakeven. The achievement is expected to provide insights into the prospects of clean fusion energy.

"This is a landmark achievement for the researchers and staff at the National Ignition Facility who have dedicated their careers to seeing fusion ignition become a reality, and this milestone will undoubtedly spark even more discovery," said Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. secretary of energy.

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The Details: Fusion is the process by which two light nuclei combine to form a single heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy.

LLNL’s experiment surpassed the fusion threshold by delivering 2.05 megajoules of energy to the target, resulting in 3.15 megajoules of fusion energy output. 

"The pursuit of fusion ignition in the laboratory is one of the most significant scientific challenges ever tackled by humanity, and achieving it is a triumph of science, engineering, and most of all, people," said Dr. Kim Budil, LLNL Director.