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The BBC article linked above describes a very specific scenario which matches neither of your described options. "The amount of energy released through the fus

The BBC article linked above describes a very specific scenario which matches neither of your described options. "The amount of energy released through the fusion reaction exceeded the amount of energy being absorbed by the fuel" This doesn't describe the relationship between the amount of energy injected by the lasers and the energy emitted by the fusion reaction. Presumably a lot of the energy injected by the lasers is wasted, some of it is absorbed by the fuel and it is this absorbed amount that was exceeded by the energy released. There is even a clearer statement in the article: "This is a step short of the lab's stated goal of "ignition", where nuclear fusion generates as much energy as the lasers supply." It seems to me that the following order of energy levels exists with present technology: Energy supplied to Lasers > Energy injected into system by lasers > Energy absorbed by fuel > Energy released by fuel > Energy captured to generate electricity from

leephillips 10y ago
'This is a step short of the lab's stated goal of "ignition", where nuclear fusion generates as much energy as the lasers supply.' Which is just what I was pointing out. And it's a large step from honest break-even, where you count the energy input into the laser system (it's not 100% efficient). And a huge step from practical break-even, where you count the energy required to run the plant.
- Spare_account 10y ago
  I was attempting to build on your contributions, but I decided to do it the same level as your comment because it made more sense to address SomeStupidPoint directly. Attempt at constructive criticism: I think your answers were a little too concise for some members of this audience and I decided to help out by expanding on your points a little. I've factored your comment about input energy into the lasers in my reply above.
  - leephillips 10y ago
    Thanks. I was probably too concise, but only had a couple of minutes.

leephillips 10y ago

'This is a step short of the lab's stated goal of "ignition", where nuclear fusion generates as much energy as the lasers supply.' Which is just what I was pointing out. And it's a large step from honest break-even, where you count the energy input into the laser system (it's not 100% efficient). And a huge step from practical break-even, where you count the energy required to run the plant.

Spare_account 10y ago
I was attempting to build on your contributions, but I decided to do it the same level as your comment because it made more sense to address SomeStupidPoint directly. Attempt at constructive criticism: I think your answers were a little too concise for some members of this audience and I decided to help out by expanding on your points a little. I've factored your comment about input energy into the lasers in my reply above.
- leephillips 10y ago
  Thanks. I was probably too concise, but only had a couple of minutes.