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Scientists Hope to Birth Tiny 'Star', Achieve Fusion
In Livermore, California, at the National Ignition Facility, scientists talk of creating a star small enough to fit in a large barn, laser beams 1,000 times more powerful than all of the United States' electrical output put together, and -- with hopeful, anxious tones -- a seemingly endless supply of energy.
In the spring, researchers in Livermore will -- with the aid of that high-powered laser, mirrors and lenses, a 32 foot wide 'reaction chamber' and billions of dollars -- set out to initiate nuclear fusion, the Telegraph reports.
Since Einstein first posited his theory of mass-energy equivalence, scientists have been fascinated with the prospect of harvesting the vast amount of energy emitted in nuclear fusion. The experiments at Livermore, depending upon the lasers, could be man's first success. Scientists, though foreseeing as much as an additional year of development, are hopeful.
"Everyone is keen to get started," deputy principal associate director of science Jeff Wisoff told the Telegraph. "The next step," he added, looking forward, "is looking at how ignition can be used to deliver something of value to the world. It has the potential to be one of the biggest achievements mankind has made." [From: Telegraph]
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Comments
11
Subscribe to commentsPhilJan 2nd 2009 9:05AM
About time...fusion is the only real answer to the energy problem. Solar and other alternatives are never going to meet the needs of the future. Fusion research should be funded to the max.
richard HallJan 2nd 2009 9:24AM
Convert that time and $ estimate into reality and it should be about a hundred big ones and come on line around, say 12-21-12. hmmm
ThomasJan 2nd 2009 9:57AM
The curiosity of Man might end up destroying Man. We don't need electricity, petroleum, or any other form of artificial energy. The natural energy of Man's physical labor has brought Man this far, and only the physical labor of Man will efficiently and safely lead Man throughout future ages. The natural energy of Man does not cause poisonous permanent pollution, it does not require wars to attain, and it is more powerful than any other form of energy.
MikeJan 3rd 2009 5:10PM
Really? Seems to me we were in the technological Dark Ages until Edison put some zap into society. "Artificial Energy" as you call it has enabled the human race to achieve more in all disciplines over the last 100 years than in all preceding time.
Also, there really isn't anything truly "artificial" on this planet. Everything we have developed as a race is made up of matter and all matter is "natural".
MikeJan 3rd 2009 5:17PM
"The natural energy of Man does not require wars to attain"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A bit naive there, sir. "War" has been a part of humankind since we took our first steps as a species. We did not need energy as a reason for war.
However, if humans became this planet's primary source of "energy", rest assured that there will PLENTY of governments willing to go to war to obtain the lion's share.
BrianJan 2nd 2009 10:34AM
Hmm... making a small sun on the surface of Earth.
I admit, this makes me nervous.
sojammerJan 2nd 2009 1:59PM
What is on the other side of the earth in the exact spot of the birth of the small sun? I just want to be sure I am not in that area!!!
StevenJan 2nd 2009 1:32PM
@Thomas: You got that first sentence right, but I'm afraid most of the rest of it seems like total nonsense to me. WTH is the energy of man?
@Brian & Sojammer: If this experiment fails, good-bye, Livermore, Calif. :-(!
TomJan 2nd 2009 4:01PM
Wow, apparently no one here has ever taken a basic physics course. If it fails it will go phffft, like a match blowing out. Since we can't recreate the pressure of gravity to the trillions tons per square inch you find at the sun's core, they will incase the reaction in a plasma field to hold the it in a tight case and use the photon pressure of their lasers to accomplish the equivalent gravity pressure. If the plasma fails, it will be like a balloon popping, since nothing will be holding the reacting hydrogen into the tight little space necessary and it will just fly away (at consdierably lower temps than even a good house fire, if that) If the lasers don't provide enough pressure for compression/fusion, same difference, a match flare and nothing. If it works, that is they actually get more energy out of the fusion process than they put in (there have been anything up to a hundred similar experiments at fusing hydrogen, none of which ever achieved that breakthru), and they can create a commercial version of the system, then yes, our energy problems are solved for the next million years or so, even at current rates of energy consumption growth. There is enough of the hydrogen isotope deuterium in all the water on the planet to easily meet those needs. Oh, and deuterium only makes up about 0.0075% of the hydrogen on the planet, including in our water, so we won't burn up all our water.
cjwJan 3rd 2009 7:52AM
"The power of the Sun, in the palm of my hand."
giffJan 4th 2009 11:52AM
so let me get this straight....these guys are going to 'create a small star' that will have more power than the United States electrical system and they're going to contain it how???? In a freakin BARN!!!!!......Idiots. Why not do it on some deserted island? Yup...fusion, run amuck because someone didn't think first, uhm....gee, what MIGHT happen if we're successful that could be the unintended consequences of CREATING A DAMN STAR IN YOUR BACKYARD.....