I would not chacterize ignition as an arbitrary milestone. One the other hand, I am not selling my oil stocks.hutchphd said:It is an incremental improvement past an arbitrary "milestone". Don't count your neutrons before they hatch.
Of course the National Ignition Facility is going to claim achieving ignition is a big success since it's in the name but the reality is a sport-stadium size laser is not going to bring about an era of cheap fusion. The main purpose of the NIF is nuclear weapons research, not practical fusion.kyphysics said:Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough Confirmed: California Team Achieved Ignition
BY JESS THOMSON ON 8/12/22 AT 9:20 AM EDT
https://www.newsweek.com/nuclear-fusion-energy-milestone-ignition-confirmed-california-1733238
For those of us not literate in the field, how significant is this and what are the prospects for a true energy transformation from here?
Nuclear fusion is a process in which two or more atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. This is the same process that powers the sun and other stars.
A nuclear fusion breakthrough refers to a significant advancement in the field of nuclear fusion research. This can include new discoveries, techniques, or technologies that bring us closer to achieving sustainable and controlled fusion reactions.
A successful nuclear fusion breakthrough could have a variety of important implications. It could provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and potentially solve many of our current energy and environmental challenges.
A nuclear fusion breakthrough could pave the way for the development of fusion reactors, which would be able to produce large amounts of energy with minimal environmental impact. This could greatly benefit our future energy needs and contribute to a more sustainable world.
While significant progress has been made in nuclear fusion research, we are still not at the point of achieving a sustainable and controlled fusion reaction. Scientists continue to work towards this goal, but it is a complex and challenging process that will likely take many more years of research and development.