4 ms·
Releasing more energy is good, but is it enough of a difference that the delta can be captured (assuming imperfect capture process) + is it able to offset the c
by code4money 5y ago
Releasing more energy is good, but is it enough of a difference that the delta can be captured (assuming imperfect capture process) + is it able to offset the cost of the expensive laser setup (maintenance)?
- m-watson 5y agoBaby steps, there are any number of issues to address if the goal was to create something that is energy producing for consumption. However, taking out even any aspect of commercialization or scaling this is an important milestone in terms of science and engineering. That's not to say don't ask those questions, it is just allow the excitement of progress while asking future questions.
- modeless 5y agoThe article states that the reaction produced more energy than the fuel absorbed, not more energy than it took to run the lasers. I expect the efficiency of power transfer to the fuel is pretty low.
- jatone 5y agoalso mentioned chain reactions which would be one way to generate more energy than input even if your input was high.
- lambdatronics 5y agoYou're right, they had 1.8 MJ of photons hitting the target, but something like 400MJ of energy going into the laser, which is inefficient (<1%).
- modeless 5y agoWow, I didn't guess that low. I guess it makes sense though.