> Breakeven describes the moment when plasmas in a fusion device release at least as much energy as is required to heat them
[0] https://www.iter.org/sci/BeyondITER
Is this just a case of multiple terms for the same phenomenon, and do plasma physicists have a preference?
> Ignition should not be confused with breakeven, a similar concept that compares the total energy being given off to the energy being used to heat the fuel. The key difference is that breakeven ignores losses to the surroundings, which do not contribute to heating the fuel, and thus are not able to make the reaction self-sustaining. Breakeven is an important goal in the fusion energy field, but ignition is required for a practical energy producing design.