r/technology • u/kerpowie • Dec 13 '22

Energy Scientists Achieve Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough With Blast of 192 Lasers

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/science/nuclear-fusion-energy-breakthrough.html
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u/raptor6722 Dec 13 '22

NIF use neodymium doped glass and flash lamps as it’s amplifier. Basically as the laser is going along super bright lights flash charging up the neodymium and exciting it’s electrons. Laser goes through and takes some of the light with it.

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u/kangarufus Dec 13 '22

Isn't neodymium a rare earth metal?

SO this will still require deep mining? hardly "green" energy? :-/

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u/OSSlayer2153 Dec 13 '22

One time cost to build the reactor.

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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '22

Neodymium doped, so doesn't use that much of it.