The system can deliver up to 1.9 megajoules of energy using 192 laser beams. During the experiments at the NIF, fusion reactions generate up to 4 megajoules of energy, equivalent to the energy released by the explosion of 10 kilograms of TNT. The researchers are currently working on improving the laser system’s efficiency, which could reduce the costs of fusion power plants.
In summary, the development of fusion power plants is a lengthy process. However, the success of the NIF is an important step in this direction, and new investments in laser fusion give hope that fusion power plants could become a reality in the coming decades. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory video provides an accurate depiction of a fusion reaction.