Sounds like it is a little bit that way, per this European research update producing a 5-second-stable plasma. Note the on-story caveats that this still won't be coming online before 2050.
But? Even if we're closer to long-term-stable plasma, nuclear fusion may have other extrinsic costs.
First, materials. The story mentions beryllium and tungsten being key materials in the "bottle." How available are they for mining? At what dollar cost and what energy input cost?
Second, safety. I would think that a "bottle" collapse would just shut down a fusion reactor. But, what if, through bad inputs of deuterium and tritium, if they're the fuels, it starts going critical? How do you keep that from blowing up?
Third, it's not quite true that there will be no waste.
Yes, deuterium and tritium produce helium-4. AND neutron radiation.
In the materials for a plant, is it possible that some of the items, say the tungsten, might in some isotopes be capable of being fissioned? Or undergoing beta decay?
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