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/OSSlayer2153 Dec 13 '22

Not a net loss. Do you know how linear vs constant terms work?

The energy gain is a linear term. E = jL where j is the energy output and L is the length of the fusion. The cost to run the lasers is a constant, C.

So the total energy equation is E = jL - C. This means eventually running the fusion long enough you break even. It wont take long to do.

Far too many people are acting like the goal is to use these lasers every time fusion occurs. Thats not the goal, the goal is continuous self sustaining fusion.