They also concluded that the glass laser is the only driver capable of achieving ignition and gain in the next decade. NIF target physics data will be useful for any driver. NIF will also gather data required to design an engineering test facility capable of developing reactor concepts and evolving into a demonstration fusion power plant by 2025 as called for in the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. The development path for inertial fusion energy appears fiscally attractive because its technologies and facilities have multiple uses, its drivers can service several experiment areas, and its principles can be proven at small power levels. Inertial fusion is being pursued in major research facilities in Japan, France and Russia in addition to the United States.
Smaller programs exist in many other countries.
LLNL news releases and news photos are available on the World Wide Web of the Internet, NASW in Compuserve's Journalism Forum, and on UC Newswire.