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A comment on Nuclear physicist explains why fusion ignition is hailed as a major breakthrough. Parent comment

Re:Nuclear physicist explains why fusion ignition is hailed ... by donquixote25 on Monday December 19, 2022 @11:48AM (#34054263)
The definition of Q that is being used was established by the National Academy of Sciences not NIF.

NIF previously tied to use the hot spot energy instead of target energy in 2013, which they were criticized for, and rightfully so. But this definition of Q is analogous to the definition of Q used by MCF.

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Re:Nuclear physicist explains why fusion ignition is hailed ... by zardo on Monday December 19, 2022 @01:07PM (#34055361)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the Q typically used for MCF does not count the energy in neutrons, only the alpha particle energy.
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Re:Nuclear physicist explains why fusion ignition is hailed ... by throwawaymaths on Monday December 19, 2022 @02:53PM (#34056776)
Ok. So the NAS has an exquisitely stupid definition of Q which is not at all what most engineers would use as a reasonable definition of Q
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