Laser-induced fusion is a process in which multiple atomic nuclei are fused together to create a new, heavier nucleus. This process is often referred to as thermonuclear fusion and is used to generate energy in nuclear power plants. There are several synonyms that are commonly used to describe this process, such as inertial confinement fusion, nuclear fusion, and controlled fusion. Inertial confinement fusion refers to the technique of using lasers to compress a small amount of fuel to create the conditions for fusion. Nuclear fusion is a more general term that describes the process of combining atomic nuclei to create a new element. Controlled fusion refers to attempts to use fusion reactions to generate energy in a controlled and safe manner.