>Can a multi-stage pellet be formulated? Ignition of an outer pellet provides some energy to get a more powerful inner pellet ignited. My understanding is that

>Can a multi-stage pellet be formulated? Ignition of an outer pellet provides some energy to get a more powerful inner pellet ignited. My understanding is that that is the whole point of the announcement. The initial laser induced fusion caused further fusion of the interior. That's why the gain is greater than one. And that's why there is excitement, the possibility is there to scale things up using larger/more massive pellets. To me, that's the real announcement, the laser initiated fusion created additional fusion. The whole break-even energy seems more like a red-herring. Also, with inertial confinement fusion you have the possibility of doing the harder fusions, (like aneutronic fusion), that magnetic confinement fusion would have a much harder time with.