Efficiency of equivalent lasers has improved by about 40X since NIF was built, and they seem to have nonlinear scaling on fusion output. NIF definitely isn't a

Efficiency of equivalent lasers has improved by about 40X since NIF was built, and they seem to have nonlinear scaling on fusion output. NIF definitely isn't a practical energy system, but it is an experiment that helps move us in that direction. Here's a NYTimes article[1] about various companies attempting laser fusion for power production. One of them has an approach very similar to NIF's, and a couple others are similar but do away with the need for a hohlraum by using a different type of laser. They also say: "A decade ago, a report[2] by the National Academy of Sciences found much to like in the energy potential of laser fusion but recommended that the United States hold off major investments until ignition was achieved. That time is now." [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/science/laser-fusion-energy-start-ups.html https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/science/laser-fusion-ener... [2] https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18289/an-assessment-of-the-prospects-for-inertial-fusion-energy https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18289/an-assessmen...