Inertial Confinement Fusion
A fusion energy approach that uses intense laser or ion beam pulses to rapidly compress and heat a millimeter-scale fuel capsule to fusion ignition conditions.
Governing formula
ρ R ≥ 1 g/cm² (Compressed Areal Density)
SI unit
g/cm² (Areal Density) & Mbar (Implosion Pressure)
In depth
High-power lasers ablate the outer shell of a deuterium-tritium capsule, creating rocket-like inward implosion pressure (~100 billion atmospheres). Fuel mass inertia holds the core together long enough for fusion burn to sweep through.
Examples in the real world
The National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieving fusion ignition and net energy gain Q > 1 using 192 high-power laser beams.