Vicariously Tour the National Ignition Facility

Dave Bullock writes "The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has been discussed several times over the years on Slashdot and just recently fired all of its 192 lasers. LLNL scientists predict NIF will attain ignition (controlled nuclear explosion) in 2010. For now, take a look at the photos I shot of NIF for Wired.com when I toured it earlier this year."

Comments

"controlled nuclear explosion"

[MrMista_B]

Um... wow. 'controlled nuclear explosion'?

I'm an utter layman - anyone care to explain why that shouldn't be shocking?

Re:"controlled nuclear explosion"

[Dr_Barnowl]

It is shocking.

Firstly, because it's basically a way around the bans on testing fusion weapons.

Secondly, because it's a really expensive way around the bans on testing fusion weapons. Multi-billion-dollar expensive.

Thirdly, because they like to pretend it has some relevance to civilian energy generation to help justify it.

Re:One laser actually

[radtea]

The output of that is split and amplified to make the 192 beams. Pretty amazing when you think about it.

What's even more amazing is that the program will never result in controlled fusion for peaceful power generation. How can I predict this with certainty? Because the American government is running it. There are some things the American government does really well: build weapons (although they've been falling down on that lately, too), send spacecraft to Mars (so long as they don't screw up the units) and "defend" places back into the stone age.

What they don't do is finish domestic projects. The Yucca Mountain closure was just one more example of the American government in action. Or should that be inaction?

For all the cool research the American government has done over the years, it is clear that the basic institutions are so completely dysfunctional that it doesn't matter which of your Tweedledum or Tweedledee parties is in power in any particular branch, your government will still be unable to actually complete any long-term project. At least not without massive help from Europeans and and a bit from Canadians, as in the case of the ISS.