The Secret Force for Limitless Energy? Lasers | Tammy Ma | TED

譯者: Delicia Hsu 審譯者: Regina Chu

What would you do with the largest laser in the world?

你會使用世界上最大的雷射做什麼？

Send a beam into space.

將光束發送到太空。

Strap the laser to the head of a shark.

將雷射綁在鯊魚的頭上。

Or maybe just use it to amuse your cat.

或者只是用它來娛樂你的貓。

Well, the laser that I'm talking about

我所說的雷射

is nothing like your typical laser pointer.

可完全不像典型的雷射筆。

No, this laser is a thousand times more powerful

不是，這款雷射比整個美國的電網

than the entire US electrical grid.

更強大一千倍。

It's the most energetic laser in the world.

它是世界上最具能量的雷射。

I guarantee you

我向你保證

you're going to want to keep your cat far, far away from this laser.

你會想讓你的貓遠離這道雷射。

Now, I'm a physicist,

我是一個物理學家，

so what I would want to do with this laser is something a little bit different.

所以我想用這個雷射做的事有點不同。

I take that laser and split it into almost 200 beams,

我把那道雷射分成將近 200 個光束，

and shine them from every angle onto a little pellet of hydrogen.

從各個角度將它們照射到一個氫顆粒上。

Hydrogen, that very first element on the periodic table.

氫是週期表上的第一個元素。

I'd use the laser to squeeze and compress that hydrogen

我會用雷射擠壓氫氣

until the atoms themselves fuse.

直到原子本身融合。

That's called fusion.

這就叫做核融合。

And it’s the same reaction that powers the Sun.

這和太陽產生能量的反應一樣。

So with our giant laser,

因此，借助我們的巨型雷射，

we could actually create miniature stars right here on Earth.

我們實際上可以在地球上創造微星球。

Pretty cool, right?

很酷吧？

OK, that's the goal.

好，這就是我們的目標。

But why?

但是為什麼？

Why do we care to do this?

我們為什麼要這樣做？

Fusion means unlocking a different kind of nuclear power.

核融合意味著開啟一種 不同類型的核能。

Instead of splitting big, heavy atoms, like we do with fission

與其分裂又大又重的原子， 就像我們如今

in today's nuclear power plants,

在核電廠中所做的分裂，

fusion means bringing together the atoms of a light element

核融合意味著結合輕元素的原子，

until they merge.

直到它們合併為止。

In our case, we're going to use deuterium and tritium.

在我們的例子，我們將使用氘和氚。

They are isotopes of hydrogen, heavy hydrogen.

它們是氫的同位素，即重氫。

And if we can use our lasers to get them close enough together

如果我們可以利用雷射

在足夠熱的溫度下，使它們足夠接近，

at hot enough temperatures,

and hold them there long enough until they fuse,

並將它們保持在那裡足夠長時間 直到它們融合，

what we create on the other side is a helium nucleus and a neutron.

我們在另一端創造的 是一個氦核子和一個中子。

And it just so happens that that helium and neutron

而這些氦和中子的重量

weigh just a little bit less

僅比我們最初的

than our deuterium and tritium originally did.

氘和氚小一點點。

So we're going to take that differential in mass

所以我們取這質量差

and put it into an equation that everybody knows really well.

並將它代入一個 每個人都非常熟悉的方程式中。

Einstein's E equals --

愛因斯坦的能量等於——

Audience: MC squared.

觀眾：質量乘以光速的平方。

Tammy Ma: E equals MC squared.

馬譚美：E=mc²

Where that "m" is that differential in mass,

那麼「m」是質量的差異，

we're going to multiply by "c," the speed of light,

我們將它乘以「c」，即光速，

a huge, huge number squared,

一個巨大的數字平方，

and with that, get a tremendous amount of energy out.

因此便獲得極大的能量。

How tremendous?

多麼大？

Well one single pound of fusion fuel has the same amount of energy

一磅的核融合燃料具有和五千桶石油

as 5,000 barrels of oil,

同等的能量 ，

or 3.5 million pounds of coal.

或是 350 萬磅煤炭的能量。

So fusion is the ultimate energy source,

因此，核融合就是終極能源，

not least because the fuel that we need for fusion is also very abundant.

而且核融合所需的燃料也非常豐富。

Deuterium is naturally occurring in seawater.

氘存在於自然界海水中。

About one in every 7,000 particles is D2O instead of H2O.

大約每七千個 H2O 中 有一個是D2O (一氧化二氘) 。

And tritium, we know how to breed from lithium.

還有氚，我們知道如何從鋰中產生。

So conceivably we actually have enough fusion fuel on Earth

所以可以想像我們在地球上 實際上有足夠的核融合燃料，

to last us 30 billion years

可以維持 300 億年，

of human consumption at today's levels.

以現今人類消耗的程度來說。

If you ask me, I'd call that energy security.

如果你問我，我會稱它為能源安全保障。

Fusion is also clean energy.

核融合也是清潔能源。

In our equation,

在我們的方程式中，

it was a deuterium plus a tritium gave us a helium.

它是一個氘加一個氚， 給了我們一個氦元素。

Carbon is nowhere in that equation.

該方程式中沒有任何碳。

Fusion is also inherently safe.

核融合本質上也是安全的。

In order to start a fusion reaction,

為了開始核融合反應，

we first have to put energy into the system to make the atoms fuse.

我們首先必須將能量 輸入系統來使原子融合。

So if you ever want to stop a fusion reaction,

因此，如果你想阻止核融合反應，

you just cut off that initial energy source.

你只需要切斷最初的能源。

Fusion will create waste,

核融合會產生廢料，

but it's not the kind of waste that will last for tens

但它不是那種會持續數十萬年

or hundreds of thousands of years.

或數百萬年的廢料。

Instead, the low-level nuclear waste of fusion

相反地，核融合的少量核廢料

can decay away in just decades.

可以在幾十年內衰變消失。

And that means we can place fusion power plants almost anywhere,

這意味著我們可以在 幾乎任何地方設置核融合發電廠，

near large population centers and big cities,

靠近大型人口中心和大城市，

and fusion power plants would be compatible

而核融合發電廠將會

with our current grid infrastructure or the smart grids of the future.

與我們目前的電網基礎設施 或未來的智能電網相容。

And finally, fusion energy is also flexible energy.

最後，核融合能量也是靈活的能量。

Energy when you need it and can come in different forms.

在你需要時就有的能量， 並且可以有不同的形式。

Electricity to power our homes,

供給我們家庭使用的電力，

but also high-temperature heat for industrial use.

也有用於工業用途的高溫熱量。

Now, to be fair, there are some downsides to fusion, too.

不過，公平來說， 核融合也有一些缺點。

Fusion is incredibly complex and incredibly difficult.

核融合極為複雜又困難。

The development of fusion has been and will be expensive.

開發核融合一直都很昂貴， 未來也一樣。

But the potential benefits of fusion are so great that it is worth it.

但是核融合有它值得的巨大潛在好處。

All right, so how do we actually make fusion work here on Earth?

那麼我們實際上如何 讓核融合在地球上發揮作用呢？

Well, that's the problem that we've been working on

這就是我們近 60 年來

for nearly 60 years now.

一直在解決的問題。

Let's go back to that ginormous laser.

讓我們回到那個巨大的雷射。

It's called the National Ignition Facility, or NIF,

它被稱為國家點火設施或是 NIF

at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab.

位於勞倫斯利弗摩國家實驗室。

The NIF is the world's largest, most energetic laser,

NIF 是世界上最大、 能量最強的雷射，

housed in a building the size of three American football fields,

坐落在一座有如三個美式足球場並排

side by side and ten stories tall.

而且有十層樓高的建築。

It's not just one laser.

它不只是一道雷射。

It's actually 192 separate lasers,

它實際上是 192 束獨立的雷射，

and each one alone is one of the most energetic in the world.

而且每束雷射的能量都是 世界上數一數二高的。

And we're going to combine all 192 of those lasers

我們結合這 192 束雷射，

and shine them on a little fuel pellet

然後將它們照射到一顆燃料球上，

about the size of a peppercorn.

大約就像一顆胡椒粒般的大小。

Alright, let me take you into the facility and give you a closer look.

讓我帶你進入這個設施仔細看看。

The laser starts as a little pulse of light,

雷射從一個小小的光脈衝開始，

the fraction of the energy of a typical laser pointer.

能量只有典型雷射筆的一小部分。

We're going to split that beam into 192 ways.

我們要將那束光分成 192 道。

And those beams are now going to bounce back and forth across this giant facility,

這些光束將在這巨大的設施裡來回反射，

each beam passing through hundreds of slabs of laser glass

每道光束都會穿過數百塊雷射玻璃板，

getting boosted up in energy.

以增強能量。

In total, each beam is going to travel nearly a mile

總計每道光束將會傳播將近一英里，

and get amplified up a million billion times in energy

能量會擴大一千兆倍，

and expanded in size from a little pinprick

而尺寸也從小針刺點

to over a square foot.

擴大到超過一平方英尺。

And then all 192 laser beams are going to get directed

然後這 192 道雷射光束

towards the fusion chamber.

將全部指向核融合室。

Half the laser beams go up and half come down,

一半的雷射光束上升，一半下降，

and they're going to direct and concentrate their light

光線將被集中投向到

on a tiny cylinder that sits right in the middle,

一個位於中間的小圓柱上，

about the size of a pencil eraser.

大約像一個鉛筆橡皮擦的大小。

The lasers go into that cylinder

雷射進入那個圓柱

and create a bath of X-rays

形成 X 光浴

that then envelop the little fuel pellet

然後包圍著在中間的

that sits right in the middle.

小燃料球。

Those X-rays are so intense

這些 X 光非常強烈，

that they start blowing off the shell of that pellet like a rocket.

它們會使燃料球的外殼 像火箭一樣爆開，

And then by conservation of momentum,

然後基於動量守恆，

the rest of the capsule squeezes inward,

膠囊粒的其餘部分會向內擠壓，

equal and opposite reaction.

就是反作用力。

We're going to reach temperatures of over 180 million degrees Fahrenheit,

我們將達到華氏 一億八千萬度以上的溫度，

hotter than the center of the Sun,

比太陽中心更熱，

and pressures that would feel like 100 billion Earth atmospheres

而且壓力會像一千億個地球大氣層般

pressing down on you.

壓著你。

And then we start a little spark right in the center,

然後，我們在中心開始一個小火花，

which then propagates through more of that fuel,

它在燃料球中傳播，

creating a miniature star,

創造出一顆微型的星星，

and with it a huge burst of energy.

並隨著它產生巨大的能量。

And if we do it right,

如果我們做得正確，

we can actually get a whole lot more energy out

我們輸出的能量，

than the energy that went in to start all of this.

會比初始反應輸入的能量還多。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

I know, it sounds really easy, right?

我知道，聽起來很容易，是吧？

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Well, obviously this is a story that bridges enormous scales.

顯然這個故事的規模極為龐大。

The temperature and density of a star focused in on the atomic level.

一顆星星的溫度和密度集中在原子層。

Remember how I said that laser is a thousand times the power

還記得我說過那道雷射的功率

of the US electrical grid?

是美國電網的千倍嗎？

Well, power is defined as energy per unit time.

功率定義為每單位時間的能量。

So what we're doing is taking a huge amount of energy

所以我們是把大量的能量

and compressing it down into just nanoseconds.

並將它壓縮至僅僅納米秒。

And that's why every time we fire the lasers,

這就是為什麼我們每次發射雷射時，

the lights don't flicker across the globe.

光線不會在全球閃爍。

But we are able to create conditions that are the hottest

但是，我們能夠創出全太陽系中

in the entire solar system.

最熱的情況。

All right, so I know what you guys are all thinking.

所以我知道你們都在想什麼，

Like, how could this actually possibly work, right?

譬如說，實際上這怎麼行得通，對吧？

And who would be crazy enough to try?

而且誰會瘋狂地去嘗試？

Well, tens of thousands of scientists and engineers around the world,

世界各地無數名科學家和工程師，

including me.

包括我在內。

And scientists are trying all different approaches to fusion.

科學家正在嘗試各種不同的融合方法。

Not just giant lasers, but sometimes giant magnets.

不僅是巨型雷射器， 有時還有巨大磁鐵。

Things that have cool names like tokamaks or stellarators

那些東西有很酷的名字， 像托克馬克或仿星器，

that can help shape and contain the fusion.

可以幫助塑造和控制核融合。

And right now, we're actually seeing

現在，我們可以看到

a whole bunch of new, private start-up fusion companies

全球各地出現了一群新的

pop up all across the globe,

私營新創核融合公司，

each one trying a unique and different approach to fusion.

每間公司都在嘗試某種獨特 而不同的核融合方法。

It's a whole host of brave and brilliant individuals

這是一群勇敢聰明的人們，

working hard to make this dream a reality.

努力實現這個夢想。

And our team at Lawrence Livermore National Lab

我們在勞倫斯利弗摩國家實驗室的團隊

are the stewards of work that started in 1960

基於國家安全， 於 1960 年開始成為主管單位。

because of national security.

基於國家安全， 於 1960 年開始成為主管單位。

We need to understand fusion,

我們需要了解核融合，

to understand how to ensure

了解如何確保

that our US nuclear arsenal stays safe and effective.

我們美國的核武器庫保持安全有效。

And that is what has provided the steady funding

這就是數十年來提供了穩定的資金

to pursue this very difficult physics challenge over decades.

來追求這非常困難的物理挑戰的原因。

So yeah, it took us 12 years to build the NIF,

所以是的， 我們花了 12 年建立 NIF，

and we've been doing experiments using it

我們使用它進行實驗

for nearly 15 years more now.

已經將近 15 年了。

And in that time, we've improved our physics understanding

在這段時間內，我們增進了 我們的物理理解

and computational simulation models.

並改善了計算模擬模型。

We've designed new diagnostic instruments capable of taking better, clearer,

我們設計了新的診斷儀器， 能夠拍攝更好、更清晰、

faster pictures of the experiment.

更快的實驗照片。

We've continuously pushed up the laser energy

我們不斷提升雷射能量，

and found ways to build better targets.

並找到建立更好靶材的方法。

And guess what?

而且，猜猜看？

In December of 2022, we finally did it.

2022 年 12 月，我們終於做到了。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Our team at Lawrence Livermore National Lab demonstrated fusion ignition.

我們在勞倫斯利弗摩國家實驗室的團隊 展示了核融合點火。

For the very first time in human history,

人類有史以來第一次，

we generated a controlled thermonuclear fusion reaction

我們產生了一種受控的熱核融合反應，

in the laboratory

就在實驗室中。

that generated more energy out

那反應所輸出的能量

than went in with the lasers to start it.

比啟動雷射所輸入的能量更多。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

That's right, we were able to light a match

沒錯，我們能夠點燃火柴，

and turn that into a bonfire.

然後把它變成一個營火。

And in the process, release a new form of energy

在這過程中，釋放一種新形式的能量，

that is a million times more energetic than a chemical reaction.

這種能量比化學反應高一百萬倍。

And now,

現在，

now we've actually been able to repeat ignition four more times

實際上我們在過去 15 個月以來

in just the last 15 months,

就再重複點火了四次，

with our most successful experiment

其中我們最成功的實驗

giving us over twice as much energy out as we put in with the lasers.

給予我們輸出的能量 是所輸入雷射的兩倍。

So are we done?

所以我們完成了嗎？

Well, not quite.

還沒。

In order to move towards that fusion-energy future,

為了邁向核融合能源的未來，

we'll have to figure out how to harness this energy

我們必須弄清楚如何

在真正的核融合電廠利用這種能量。

in a working fusion power plant.

And to be clear,

而且明確地說，

there's still a long scientific and engineering road ahead.

前面還有一段漫長的科學和工程之路。

Just to build on our successes at NIF,

光為了繼續 NIF 的成功基礎，

we'll have to build more efficient lasers,

我們就必須打造更高效率的雷射、

mass manufacture targets

大量製造靶材，

and figure out robotics for automated operations and more.

並解決自動化操作的機器人技術 和更多其他方面。

The depth and breadth of this challenge

這種挑戰的深度和廣度

will require sustained investment from government and private industry,

將需要政府和私營業界的持續投資，

and all of us working together.

以及我們所有人共同合作。

We're all racing to make this a reality,

我們都在努力實現這一目標，

but there's still a lot more work to be done.

但是還有很多工作要做。

I don't know exactly how long this will all take,

我不知道這一切會花多長時間，

but I do know that we can do it.

但是我知道我們做得到。

And when we do it,

而當我們做到時，

when we make fusion energy a reality,

當核融合能量實現時，

energy will become so plentiful

能量將變得如此豐富，

that it will no longer be a limited resource.

它將不再是一個有限的資源。

This will change the world as we know it.

這將改變我們現有的世界。

When energy becomes essentially unlimited,

當能量基本上變得無限時，

there are unlimited ways to use this energy.

有無限的方法能使用這種能量。

Every country will be energy independent.

每個國家都將能源獨立。

Standards of living will rise around the world,

世界各地的生活水準將提升，

and we'll be able to use energy in creative new ways as well,

我們也將能夠以創意 新方式使用能源，

like carbon capture at scale to combat climate change.

例如大規模捕獲碳來對抗氣候變化。

Vertical farming for delicious, sustainable food for all,

垂直農業為所有人提供永續美味的食物，

and desalination of seawater

以及海水淡化，

so that everybody has access to clean water.

使每個人都能獲得清潔的水。

We can do all this and more with fusion.

我們可以藉由核融合 來做這一切以及更多的事。

Fusion can ignite that future.

核融合可以點燃那個未來。

Thank you.

謝謝

(Applause)

（掌聲）