NIF Achieves Fusion Ignition
For the first time in history, a fusion reaction produces more energy than the laser energy used to trigger it.
Explore this event on the interactive timeline →On December 5, 2022, the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved fusion ignition—the fusion reaction produced 3.15 megajoules of energy from 2.05 MJ of laser input. This was the first time in human history that a controlled fusion reaction achieved net energy gain.
Key Numbers
- Energy In
- 2.05 MJ
- Energy Out
- 3.15 MJ
- Net Gain
- 1.5x (first ever)
Verified Facts
- The target capsule was a diamond-coated sphere smaller than a peppercorn, containing deuterium-tritium fuel.
- By April 2025, NIF achieved a record 8.6 MJ yield from a 2.08 MJ input—a target gain greater than 4x.
- NIF has replicated ignition multiple times since the 2022 breakthrough, systematizing the process.