Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory



February 8, 2022




Video graphic of NIF record yield of more than 1.3 megajoules

On Aug. 8, 2021, researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) attained a historic breakthrough in fusion when an experiment using the National Ignition Facility (NIF) produced more than 1.3 million joules of fusion energy, which powers the sun, the stars, and thermonuclear weapons.

Learn more about how this milestone is important for our nuclear and energy security in this video with LLNL Director Kim Budil; Jeff Wisoff, Principal Associate Director of the NIF & Photon Science Directorate; and Brad Wallin, Principal Associate Director of the Weapons and Complex Integration Program.

More Information:

Special Series: Threshold of Ignition

—Video by Jason Laurea and John Jett

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