A Short History of Fusion Research
8 min read · Energy Atlas Editorial
From 1920s stellar physics to tokamaks, stellarators, lasers, and ITER — fusion research is a century of unfinished engineering.
Astrophysicists recognized stellar fusion in the early twentieth century. After the Second World War, classified programmes explored pinch devices, mirrors, and stellarators. The tokamak's success around 1968 redirected much of the world's effort. Laser fusion grew alongside nuclear-stockpile science. International ITER cooperation was proposed in 1985. NIF's 2022 target-gain result and superconducting tokamaks of the 2010s–2020s keep both confinement paths alive.
1905
Mass–energy equivalence
Einstein publishes the relationship E = mc², later essential for understanding nuclear binding energy.
1950s
Early tokamak research
Soviet tokamak experiments, including early T-series devices, establish the toroidal magnetic-confinement line that dominates fusion research.
1985
ITER cooperation proposed
At the Geneva summit, international fusion cooperation that later becomes ITER is set in motion.
1997
JET deuterium–tritium results
The Joint European Torus produces record controlled fusion power in D–T experiments, a landmark for magnetic fusion.
2015
Wendelstein 7-X first plasma
The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Germany produces first plasma, the largest modular stellarator of its kind.
2022
NIF scientific breakeven (target gain > 1)
The US National Ignition Facility reports a laser-fusion shot in which fusion energy from the target exceeded the laser energy delivered to it, a scientific milestone — not yet a power plant.
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Inertial Confinement Fusion
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Questions
What is the difference between fusion and fission?
Fission splits heavy nuclei. Fusion joins light ones. Both can release binding energy; only fission is commercial electricity today.