Atoms Unleashed: The Science and Future of Nuclear Fusion. - E-book - ePub

Fusion FoundationsA basic idea throughout human history has been fusion, or the process of merging multiple entities into one. Many things have changed because of this phenomena, including the way our world is structured now, thanks to the blending of many cultures and scientific concepts. But here we explore nuclear fusion, a more narrow and groundbreaking kind of fusion. There has long been interest in this process as a possible way to provide humans with clean, abundant energy, similar to how the sun and other stars generate electricity.
Physics, engineering, and the search for long-term energy solutions form thebedrock of fusion. The fundamental process of nuclear fusion is the release of tremendous amounts of energy as two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. Fusion, as opposed to nuclear fission, which splits heavy atomic nuclei, could offer an almost endless and cleaner energy source. The fundamental principles that govern fusion, the difficulties of obtaining controlled fusion on Earth, and the continuous efforts to make fusion a practical energy solution are all essential to understanding fusion and its underpinnings.
A review of the fundamentals of nuclear physics is the first stop on the road to understanding fusion. Protons and neutrons make up an atom's nucleus, and the forces that control how they interact are intricate. The two most common hydrogen isotopes used in fusion reactions are deuterium and tritium. A hydrogen atom with one proton and one neutron is called deuterium, whereas a hydrogen atom with two neutrons is called tritium.
A great deal of energy is released when these isotopes fuse to produce helium.