ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some of the important devices which are intended to produce controlled fusion. In particular, the global status of laser-driven thermonuclear fusion is mentioned including technical challenges and current research in this direction. Fuel cycle and economics are deliberated together because the ignition is beneficial only if we can extract the energy efficiently from thermonuclear fuel. Almost all major research facilities in the world are discussed irrespective of their shut down or growing stages. Special emphasis is given to the National Ignition Facility (NIF), describing its scientific and technological endeavours in the campaign to demonstrate ignition. In addition, the various stages of the NIF scheme to obtain ignition are discussed. Along with inertial fusion, this chapter also mentions magnetic confinement fusion and describes the recent International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and its forthcoming output.
