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What fusion-power milestone did the Joint European Torus achieve in 1991?

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How scientists use lasers to learn about the universe — plasma Learn about the PHELIX (Petawatt High-Energy Laser for Heavy Ion Experiments) laser at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. PHELIX is used for plasma and atomic physics research.

In 1991, the Joint European Torus (JET) achieved a significant milestone in nuclear fusion research by conducting the first successful controlled production of fusion power in a magnetically confined medium.1

By injecting tritium into its plasma, the machine generated 1.7 million watts (1.7 megawatts) of fusion power for nearly two seconds. This "burn" released approximately 20 times the energy produced in previous experiments that relied solely on deuterium. This achievement was a critical step in demonstrating the potential for fusion reactors to serve as future sources of electric power.12