Inertial Fusion Energy

In December 2022, the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, California, gave the first experimental demonstration of energy gain via nuclear fusion. This achievement has proven repeatable and recent experiments have demonstrated four-fold energy gains, releasing 8.6 MJ of energy using 2.1 MJ of laser energy. Those working on Inertial Fusion Energy aim to develop this process to the point where it can usefully deliver electrical power through the grid. In this talk, Dr John Pasley explores the cutting-edge research behind Inertial Fusion Energy, which involves igniting milligram quantities of fusion fuel in a pulsed fashion using high power lasers in a reaction that produces neither greenhouse gases nor radioactive waste products. About the speaker Dr John Pasley is a member of the York Plasma Institute at the University of York. He works on High Power Laser interaction with matter and Inertial Fusion related science. In his spare time he enjoys photography and collecting, amongst other things, 1980's tech. He has also acted in several Bollywood movies.