Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion
A. B. Zylstra, O. A. Hurricane, D. A. Callahan · Large multi-institution author list led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory / National Ignition Facility (NIF) team; A. B. Zylstra et al.
Summary
Researchers at the National Ignition Facility reported reaching a burning-plasma regime in laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, where alpha-particle self-heating from fusion reactions becomes the dominant heating mechanism in the deuterium-tritium fuel. Using improved hohlraum and capsule designs, several experiments crossed into this state, producing substantially higher fusion energy yields. The work marked a key milestone on the path toward ignition.
Key findings
- Demonstrated experiments in which fusion self-heating exceeded the external (compression/PdV) heating of the plasma.
- Reported fusion energy yields up to roughly 170 kJ, a major step up from prior NIF results.
- Established a burning-plasma regime as a stepping stone toward subsequent ignition demonstrations at NIF.
Subjects & keywords
Cite this paper
A. B. Zylstra, O. A. Hurricane, & D. A. Callahan [Large multi-institution author list led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory / National Ignition Facility (NIF) team; A. B. Zylstra et al.] (2022). Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04281-w
@article{zylstra2022burning,
author = {A. B. Zylstra and O. A. Hurricane and D. A. Callahan and {Large multi-institution author list led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory / National Ignition Facility (NIF) team; A. B. Zylstra et al.}},
title = {Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion},
journal = {Nature},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1038/s41586-021-04281-w},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04281-w}
}