National Ignition Facility laser achieves repeated nuclear fusion ignition milestone

The National Ignition Facility in California demonstrated repeated success hitting a molten tin droplet with a laser 50,000 times per second at temperatures 40 times hotter than the sun's surface, achieving controlled nuclear fusion ignition. The $400 million facility uses mirrors engineered to micrometer precision to focus the laser with unprecedented accuracy on target. This breakthrough, deemed impossible by experts for 30 years, represents progress toward fusion energy as a viable power source. The facility must now scale the technology and improve efficiency to demonstrate commercial viability.