The fusion research laser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, which focuses 192 beams onto a target the size of a pencil eraser and is billed by the laboratory as the highest-energy laser in the world. On 5 December 2022 it ran the first controlled fusion experiment to yield more energy than the laser delivered, 3.15 megajoules out against 2.05 in. That is scientific breakeven against laser energy on target, not against the far larger electricity the facility draws, and NIF is a research instrument, not a power plant.
Facts
Facility TypeFusion research facility 1 LocationLivermore, California, United States 1 Commissioned Year Connections
Associated With
Source Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site
Operated By
The National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is operated by DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Uses Source
Source Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site
Sources
1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site
Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryNews, LLNL achieves fusion ignition
On Dec. 5, a team at LLNL's National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first controlled fusion experiment
What is NIF, Big Science
THE WORLD'S HIGHEST-ENERGY LASER
Operating status, entity description
On 5 December 2022 it ran the first controlled fusion experiment to yield more energy than the laser delivered, 3.15 megajoules out against 2.05 in.
View the Source 2. National Ignition Facility, Wikipedia
Operations, 2009-2012Quote, Operations, 2009-2012
On May 29, 2009, the NIF was dedicated in a ceremony attended by thousands.
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