Can controlled nuclear fusion be achieved with inertial confinement?

💡 The Answer

• Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) uses lasers to compress and heat a fuel pellet.
• The implosion creates conditions for fusion before the pellet disassembles.
• The National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved ignition in 2022.
• ICF differs from magnetic confinement and aims for commercial energy production.