Mini sun creation may offer clean energy

London, Mar 15 (ANI): Using world's most powerful laser system, scientists are planning to replicate sun's fiery core in experiments that may offer a clean source of energy.

Physicists are hoping to develop the first form of nuclear fusion technology that produces more energy than it consumes after more than 50 years of experimentation.

Within the next fortnight, researchers at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California are planning to fire 192 separate laser beams capable of generating 500 trillion watts.

Making the energy pulse concentrate on a tiny pellet of hydrogen, scientists are attempting to mimic the reactions that take place inside the sun.

The scientists hope to refine the process over the next year until they trigger a nuclear reaction capable of producing large amounts of energy.

"We hope the ignition experiments will show that we can generate more power than we put in and that fusion can be the source of a supply of carbon-free energy," The Times quoted Ed Moses, director of the NIF, as saying.

"I think the old joke about fusion being just 50 years away, no matter when you ask, is about to become defunct. If we succeed, public perception of fusion will change because it is the ultimate energy source - no carbon, limitless, safe and secure," the expert added. (ANI)