Fusion Breakthrough: NIF Experiment Achieves Record Energy Output

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has achieved a significant milestone in its net-positive fusion experiment, boosting energy output from 3.15 megajoules last year to a record 8.6 megajoules. This further proves that controlled nuclear fusion is a viable possibility, although the energy consumed still significantly exceeds the energy produced. The breakthrough offers new hope for clean energy development. NIF utilizes inertial confinement, using 192 powerful laser beams to compress a deuterium-tritium fuel pellet, triggering fusion. In contrast, magnetic confinement approaches haven't yet achieved net-positive results, but several projects are underway.