A new approach to clean nuclear fusion power

Fig.1 Schematic image of fast ignition laser fusion utilizing relativistic effects of ultra-intense laser light

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Fig.2 Schematic scenario of fast ignition

A team of researchers at Osaka University has investigated a new method for generating nuclear fusion power
These findings could provide a spark for laser fusion, ushering in a new era of carbonless energy production
The fuel for this method, which is usually a mix of the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium, is easier to obtain than uranium, and becomes harmless helium after fusion
“This result is an important step towards the realization of laser fusion energy, as well as for other applications of high-energy density physics, including medical treatment,” explains senior author Kazuo Tanaka.

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