Burning plasma achieved in inertial fusion
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.