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'''Hydrogen fusion''' is an instance of [[nuclear fusion]], where the nuclei of multiple Hydrogen atoms combine to form the nuclei of a [[Helium]] atom.
'''Nuclear fusion''' is a process in which small atomic nuclei fuse and release energy. In a hydrogen bomb, fusion of deuterium and tritium (two isotopes of hydrogen) releases four times as much energy as the same mass of uranium in a fission bomb.<ref name=fusionEnergy/>


Hydrogen nuclei do fuse naturally, under conditions of very intense pressure and heat, such as in the core of a star like [[Sol]], Earth's sun.
To derive useful power from nuclear fusion, the nuclei need to be confined at pressures and temperatures far higher than any material can withstand. There are two ways to do this - either with magnetic fields, which force the charged particles to circle around rather that escape, or with "inertial confinement" like in a bomb, but driven by lasers on a much smaller scale.<ref name=magnetoInertial/>


Heavier elements will also fuse, under even more intense pressure and heat. But Hydrogen fusion releases much more energy than the energy released by Helium, [[Carbon]], and other relatively light elements.  This is why stars rely on Hydrogen fusion for most of their luminous period.
Both fission and fusion produce small amounts of nuclear waste. The advantages of fusion are that it does not have the anti-nuclear stigma of fission, and the reactors will be so expensive as to not threaten an end to the fossil fuel industry.


[[Hydrogen bomb]]s also rely on Hydrogen fusion, for their destructive power. At the heart of every Hydrogen bomb there is a fission bomb, and the explosion of that fission bomb generates the intense pressure and heat to trigger the fusion of [[Deuterium]], the isotope of Hydrogen where the nuclei has both a [[proton]] and a [[neutron]].
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=fusionEnergy>On a mass basis, the D-T fusion reaction releases over four times as much energy as uranium fission.[https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-fusion-power.aspx Nuclear Fusion Power] World Nuclear Association, 2022.
</ref>
<ref name=magnetoInertial>Recently there has been some excitement about a hybrid technique, using inertia from massive pistons compressing a magnetic field, which keeps the hot plasma away from the reactor walls.[https://www.helionenergy.com/ Helion Energy]
</ref>
}}[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]

Latest revision as of 11:00, 27 September 2024

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Nuclear fusion is a process in which small atomic nuclei fuse and release energy. In a hydrogen bomb, fusion of deuterium and tritium (two isotopes of hydrogen) releases four times as much energy as the same mass of uranium in a fission bomb.[1]

To derive useful power from nuclear fusion, the nuclei need to be confined at pressures and temperatures far higher than any material can withstand. There are two ways to do this - either with magnetic fields, which force the charged particles to circle around rather that escape, or with "inertial confinement" like in a bomb, but driven by lasers on a much smaller scale.[2]

Both fission and fusion produce small amounts of nuclear waste. The advantages of fusion are that it does not have the anti-nuclear stigma of fission, and the reactors will be so expensive as to not threaten an end to the fossil fuel industry.

  1. ↑ On a mass basis, the D-T fusion reaction releases over four times as much energy as uranium fission.Nuclear Fusion Power World Nuclear Association, 2022.
  2. ↑ Recently there has been some excitement about a hybrid technique, using inertia from massive pistons compressing a magnetic field, which keeps the hot plasma away from the reactor walls.Helion Energy
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