Scientists Discover Low-Frequency Lasers Enable Nuclear Fusion at Much Lower Temperatures
Summary
Scientists discover that low-frequency lasers are a billion times more efficient at triggering nuclear fusion than high-energy X-ray lasers, potentially eliminating the need to heat fusion fuel to tens of millions of degrees and revolutionizing clean energy production.
Key Points
- Researchers discover that low-frequency lasers are billion-times more efficient at nuclear fusion than high-energy X-ray lasers by enabling multi-photon interactions that increase quantum tunneling probability
- The breakthrough allows fusion reactions to occur at much lower temperatures, with laser assistance at 1 keV making fusion as probable as unassisted fusion at 10 keV
- These theoretical findings provide a roadmap for next-generation laser facilities to potentially eliminate the need for heating fusion fuel to tens of millions of Kelvin