mynewaccount5

mynewaccount5 t1_j04s54a wrote

Besides being cool, and being another step forward, what is the scientific significance of net positive energy in fusion experiments?

What I mean to say, is generating 2.04 much easier than generating 2.06? Is there some barrier that makes crossing that net barrier so difficult?

In my mind, I am comparing this to a perpetual motion machine. The big barrier there of course are the laws of thermodynamics. The difference between 99% and 100% efficiency is huge because that would mean a fundamental law of the universe is not actually true.

Net positive energy on the other hand seems more arbitrary and perhaps more of an engineering achievement than a scientific achievement since the implications relate more to scale. I know nothing about fusion so am seeking to learn.

(Not to downplay anything, I am just wondering about the scientific implications)

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