Difference between revisions of "Nuclear fusion"

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'''Nuclear fusion''' occurs when two atoms of a light element (such as hydrogen) combine to create a single atom of a heavier element (such as helium).  Fusion of elements lighter than iron can theoretically release energy, while fusion of elements heavier than iron will always consume energy. Efficient production of energy using nuclear fusion requires light hydrogen isotopes (such as [[deuterium]]) that will fuse relatively easily to liberate a relatively large amount of energy.
'''Nuclear fusion''' occurs when two atoms of a light element (such as [[hydrogen]]) combine to create a single atom of a heavier element (such as [[helium]]).  Fusion of elements lighter than iron will release energy, while fusion of elements heavier than iron will always consume energy. Efficient production of energy using nuclear fusion requires light [[isotope]]s (such as [[deuterium]]) that will fuse relatively easily to liberate a relatively large amount of energy.


==SciFi Clichés==
Achieving nuclear fusion requires very high temperatures and pressures of the kind normally only found deep inside [[star]]s. The extraordinary conditions needed to achieve nuclear fusion make it non-viable as a power source with current technology: creating the conditions for fusion to occur requires more energy than can be extracted from the reaction.
 
==[[Science Fiction|SciFi Clichés]]==
Nuclear fusion reactors are prone to exploding in science fiction stories, but in real life, the conditions of high-temperature and high-pressure needed to initiate and maintain a nuclear fusion reaction mean that any problem with a fusion reactor will almost certainly cause the reaction to die instead of running out of control.
Nuclear fusion reactors are prone to exploding in science fiction stories, but in real life, the conditions of high-temperature and high-pressure needed to initiate and maintain a nuclear fusion reaction mean that any problem with a fusion reactor will almost certainly cause the reaction to die instead of running out of control.
Breaching the reactor vessel would, however, release whatever heat and pressure it contained at the time. This would be bad, but not nearly as catastrophic as the usual depiction of fusion reactor explosions in sci-fi.
==Cold Fusion==
Cold fusion is the theoretical achievement of nuclear fusion at far more easily achievable temperatures and pressures. Many engineers have attempted to achieve nuclear fusion at relatively low temperature, and some have even claimed success, but to date there is no viable, repeatable method of achieving fusion without recreating the temperatures and pressures found in the interior of the [[Sun]].
==See Also==
* [[Nuclear fission]]
* [[Nuclear weapon]]
* [[Impulse engine]]


[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Real Technology]]

Revision as of 12:54, 25 February 2015

Nuclear fusion occurs when two atoms of a light element (such as hydrogen) combine to create a single atom of a heavier element (such as helium). Fusion of elements lighter than iron will release energy, while fusion of elements heavier than iron will always consume energy. Efficient production of energy using nuclear fusion requires light isotopes (such as deuterium) that will fuse relatively easily to liberate a relatively large amount of energy.

Achieving nuclear fusion requires very high temperatures and pressures of the kind normally only found deep inside stars. The extraordinary conditions needed to achieve nuclear fusion make it non-viable as a power source with current technology: creating the conditions for fusion to occur requires more energy than can be extracted from the reaction.

SciFi Clichés

Nuclear fusion reactors are prone to exploding in science fiction stories, but in real life, the conditions of high-temperature and high-pressure needed to initiate and maintain a nuclear fusion reaction mean that any problem with a fusion reactor will almost certainly cause the reaction to die instead of running out of control.

Breaching the reactor vessel would, however, release whatever heat and pressure it contained at the time. This would be bad, but not nearly as catastrophic as the usual depiction of fusion reactor explosions in sci-fi.

Cold Fusion

Cold fusion is the theoretical achievement of nuclear fusion at far more easily achievable temperatures and pressures. Many engineers have attempted to achieve nuclear fusion at relatively low temperature, and some have even claimed success, but to date there is no viable, repeatable method of achieving fusion without recreating the temperatures and pressures found in the interior of the Sun.

See Also