In the United States, scientists have made a breakthrough in the field of nuclear fusion. In one experiment, more energy was generated than was used the first time. This was reported by the US Department of Energy.
LOOK. US Scientists Announce Breakthrough in Nuclear Fusion: What is Nuclear Fusion and What’s the Benefit? Science expert Martijn Peters explains
“The experiment produced more energy from the fusion than the laser energy used to drive the fusion,” said Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), a federal research facility in Livermore, California, under the Department of Energy. . “This result is a major scientific breakthrough that has taken decades to make.”
US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm hailed the breakthrough as “revolutionary, capable of improving the world and saving lives”.
Less radioactive waste
In nuclear fusion, the nuclei of different atoms are fused together in a reactor, the reverse of nuclear fission. This technique has enormous potential as an energy source, because there are large quantities of light nuclei on Earth, mainly hydrogen, so that fuel is available almost indefinitely. Another benefit is that no greenhouse gases are released and far less radioactive waste is produced than with nuclear fission.
In theory, nuclear fusion could become a very environmentally friendly energy source, but fusing atoms requires intense lasers, which cost energy.
A unit at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducted a test last week. It took 2.05 megajoules of energy to create 3.15 megajoules, it was announced on Tuesday. There’s still a net loss, because it took 300 megajoules to heat up the lasers so they could fire 2.05 megajoules of energy.
Nuclear weapons
The scoop could also help manage US nuclear weapons. They also use nuclear fusion. By fusing atoms together in a laboratory, such bombs can be tested without actually detonating them. That’s why the United States spends billions of dollars each year on nuclear fusion research.
There is still a long way to go before the solution is industrially and commercially feasible. According to Kim Budil, director of LLNL, this could take several decades. According to her, there are mainly technological challenges.
The downside of the success story is that several hundred megajoules of energy had to be injected first. Energy yield is ultimately a fraction of the input, says Tony Roulstone of the University of Cambridge. To generate electricity it is necessary to produce at least twice the energy invested.
According to Justin Wark of the University of Oxford, the LLNL can only achieve this once a day. “A fusion power plant would have to do this ten times a second.” However, the physicist is optimistic. “The basic science is quite well understood and this should encourage further investment.”
Read also:
LOOK. European scientists also succeeded in February in generating a record amount of energy through nuclear fusion
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.
