Fig. 1. The D–T fusion reaction at the heart of laser energy.

Fig. 2. Binding energy variation with atomic number.

Fig. 3. Potential energy schematic for fusion.

Fig. 4. Assembly of the fuel at high density.

Fig. 5. Compression and heating of the fuel capsule; ignition and burn of the D–T fuel.

Fig. 6. The NIF facility at LLNL, California, USA (picture courtesy of LLNL).

Fig. 7. One of the two NIF laser bays (picture courtesy of LLNL).

Fig. 8. LMJ in Bordeaux, France (picture courtesy of CEA).

Fig. 9. The Gekko XII and LFEX lasers at ILE, University of Osaka, Japan (picture courtesy of Osaka University).

Fig. 10. The laser bay of AWE’s Orion facility (picture courtesy of AWE).

Fig. 11. Visualization of the HiPER prototype facility.

Fig. 12. Neutron capture and tritium generation in lithium.