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US scientists achieve net energy gain for second time in a fusion reaction
(www.theguardian.com)
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this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2023
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Oh for goodness sake. 400MJ in for 3.15MJ out is not a net energy gain. I wish just once they'd be honest about what they do, it's ok to do basic physics research without pretending you've saved the world every six months.
Except this one isn't basic physics research. It's an end run around nuclear weapons treaties to test how missiles and planes respond to H-bombs going off nearby.
It could have an energy application (maybe), but given that the targets are ludicrously expensive, the most viable power plant would resemble the attempts in the 60s to use bombs in underground caverns to heat things up and put essentially a geothermal plant on top. Except with a laser detonator rather than a fission one. Chances of making it economically viable or reliable are slim.
Would you mind expanding on your first part, please? That sounds interesting and I haven't seen anyone else say anything about it. I'd like to know more.
NIF is used to test nuclear weapon stock piles without actually detonating them as a test. This is in compliance with the START treaties
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-111shrg65071/html/CHRG-111shrg65071.htm You can search "ignition" for the couple references.
Cool stuff, thank you.