Laser-induced fusion is not likely to be a viable method for continuous power generation. It is more of an experimental method to determine fusion conditions.
The USA research is many years behind the efforts of ITER (the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) being built in Cadarache, France.
ITER is a tokamak design with the fusion plasma constrained by an intense magnetic field produced by superconducting magnets cooled by liquid helium at a temperature of only 4.5 degC above absolute zero, i.e at minus 268.65 degC.
The 23,000-tonne ITER Tokamak is a complex assembly of one million components and an estimated ten million individual parts. Surrounding the central reaction chamber are all of the systems that will work in concert to create a 150-million-degree plasma: the powerful magnet systems, as well as...
www.iter.org
It’s going to take another 5 years to complete construction but is designed to maintain fusion conditions for many minutes, perhaps up to an hour continuously. It will also produce about 500 MW excess thermal energy, which is enough to generate its own electrical power, so will be truly self-sustaining. If anyone gets the chance to visit ITER, take it, it’s a stupendous project to see.
