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What happens when star fuel tritium and deuterium extinguishes?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
A star goes through the following primary fusion processes in its life:
- proton-proton burning, H + H --> D + e+ + νe + 0.42 MeV; followed by deuterium-proton burning, D + H --> He3 + γ + 5.49 MeV; followed by helium-3 burning, He3 + He3 --> He + H + H + 12.86 MeV; this reaction chain is followed 86% of the time in a typical main line star, the other 3 proton-proton burning reaction chains are rarer but all yield ordinary helium-4. (at no point does the star conduct DT burning, it just eventually runs out of ordinary hydrogen-1)
- when the star runs out of hydrogen to burn it must switch to a process called triple alpha burning, He + He + He --> C12 + e+ + e− + 7.275 MeV; to do this its core contracts until the pressure and temperature are high enough to ignite triple alpha burning, the extra energy release causes the outer layers of the star to expand and cool, it has left the main line and become a red giant
- when the red giant runs out of helium to burn its core collapses further, igniting additional reactions (see links for details)
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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What are the functions of the deuterium and tritium atoms in nuclear reactors?
All current nuclear reactors are fission reactors, tritium has no function in a fission reactor, in standard water moderated reactors deuterium also has no function, in heavy water moderated reactors deuterium is the moderator. If we are ever able to make a fusion reactor, deuterium/tritium mix will be used as fuel.
What is laser driven fusion?
The light emitted by a laser has an associated energy (Energy = Plank's Constant(times)frequency of the light => E=h*f). If the energy is high enough coupled with amplification techniques this energy can be utilized the induce fusion of the fuel. The fuel can be Deuterium-Deuterium, Deuterium-Tritium, Deuterium-Helium(3), or Hydrogen-Boron. The fusion of these atoms leads to product atoms and the release of energy.
Where did the hydrogen bomb explode during the Cold War?
new mexico Correction, Eniwetok atoll in the pacific on the island of Eugelab in 1952. Yield was 10 Megatons and it entirely destroyed the island. Test shot Ivy Mike. Device was 80 foot tall, 20 foot diameter, 2 foot thick steel cylinder containing triple nested thermosbottles to keep cold a liquid mixture of Deuterium/Tritium fusion fuel. Also vaporized in the explosion was a cryogenic liquid Hydrogen plant that supplied liquid Hydrogen that was pumped through one of the nested thermosbottles to keep the Deuterium/Tritium mixture liquid.
What element is used in the h-bomb?
The pit ("core") in the primary of a two-stage thermonuclear weapon (or by itself in a single stage weapon) is a sphere or ovoid (hollow in modern weapons) made of a fissile material such as plutonium (usually) or uranium (less frequently). They are usually alloyed and plated with some other metal (with plutonium, the plutonium is usually alloyed with gallium and plated with nickel or gold)to stabilise them. They are frequently hollow but there is a pit tube to inject tritium or tritium / deuterium gas mixture into the core to boost the primary and adjust the yield of the weapon. Some weapons contain a layer of a neutron reflecting material such as beryllium surrounding the pit or bonded to it. The pit may also be bare in certain compact linear implosion weapons. Very old-style nuclear weapons had a pusher just outside the reflector made of aluminum or depleted uranium. The secondaries of two-stage weapons (thermonuclear) also contain Lithium-6 deuteride as the source of deuterium and tritium for the fusion fuel during the ablative implosion of the secondary. There is a plutonium "spark plug" (it's a long hollow cylinder of plutonium, or a sphere in more modern compact weapons like the W87 or W88) inside and an outside layer made of lead or depleted uranium to compress the fusion fuel and the spark plug.
How does CO2 extinguish fire?
first you must understand that in order to burn a fire needs fuel, heat, oxygen, some sort of reaction. carbondioxide extinguishes fire by removing the oxygen from the equation which in turn stops the reaction, causes the heat to dissipate, and then all thats left is partially burned fuel.
Is deuterium radioactive?
No, deuterium is stable. It is Tritium that is radioactive.
What would be the source of fuel required by a fusion reactor?
Deutrium and tritium are needed as fuel in fusion reactor.
What are the functions of the deuterium and tritium atoms in nuclear reactors?
All current nuclear reactors are fission reactors, tritium has no function in a fission reactor, in standard water moderated reactors deuterium also has no function, in heavy water moderated reactors deuterium is the moderator. If we are ever able to make a fusion reactor, deuterium/tritium mix will be used as fuel.
What is the power source for fusion?
The most likely fuel for fusion on earth is a mixture of deuterium and tritium (both isotopes of hydrogen)
Which source of energy is used for fusion?
Nuclear fusion produces energy from the changes in the nuclear composition of the fuel, which is a mixture of deuterium and tritium. Essentially what happens is that some of the mass of the nuclei is destroyed and this releases energy
What is the fuel source for fusion?
Hydrogen in stars. Man made attempts use the heavier isotopes of Hydrogen (Deuterium, Tritium) and sometimes Lithium.
What is laser driven fusion?
The light emitted by a laser has an associated energy (Energy = Plank's Constant(times)frequency of the light => E=h*f). If the energy is high enough coupled with amplification techniques this energy can be utilized the induce fusion of the fuel. The fuel can be Deuterium-Deuterium, Deuterium-Tritium, Deuterium-Helium(3), or Hydrogen-Boron. The fusion of these atoms leads to product atoms and the release of energy.
What is the difference between hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen fussion?
In fuel cells the hydrogen is oxidised to water. In fusion 2 different isotopes of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium) fuse together to form helium.
What are nuclear weapons made of?
Many things, depending on the type of bomb. Some are:fission fuel: Uranium-235, Uranium-233, Plutonium-239fusion fuel: Deuterium, Tritium, Lithium Deuterideneutron sourceshigh explosivesdetonatorstiming electronicsarming electronicsRADAR electronicsparachutesetc., etc., etc.
Where does hydrogen for bomb making come from?
There are 2 isotopes of hydrogen needed to make a hydrogen bomb: deuterium and tritium. Deuterium occurs naturally in small amounts mixed with ordinary hydrogen (just like uranium-235 occurs naturally in small amounts in natural uranium), it is obtained by a heavy water enrichment cascade using ordinary water as the input feed. Tritium does not occur naturally and must be manufactured by irradiating lithium with neutrons. Lithium is mined from the ground. The easiest way to manufacture the tritium for a hydrogen bomb is the in situ processwhere the bomb does it itself. The fuel for such a hydrogen bomb is lithium deuteride, fission generated neutrons irradiate the lithium deuteride, manufacturing tritium which mixes with the deuterium and the bomb is now ready to explode!Using a mixture of deuterium and tritium isotopes of hydrogen in the fusion bomb makes it practical as this mixture has the lowest ignition temperature.So to sum up your answer:deuterium is taken from watertritium is manufactured in the bomb from lithium, which is mined from the ground
How are nuclear weapons fueled?
Fission weapons use Oralloy (93.5% Uranium-235 HEU) and/or Plutonium-239 as fuel.Wet fusion explosives use a cryogenic mixture of liquid Deuterium and liquid Tritium as fuel. These are not practical weapons.Dry fusion weapons use Lithium Deuteride as fuel.
What is a hydrogen bomb made of?
a hydrogen bomb is based on the principle of nuclear fusion. 4 hydrogen nulcei combine to form a helium nuclei and release energy. But fusion is only possible at high temperatures. Hence a nuclear fission reaction is carried out to get a high temperature.practical hydrogen bombs actually use the solid chemical lithium deuteride, not hydrogen as their fuel. neutrons from the bomb's fissioning plutonium "sparkplug" split the lithium nuclei to produce tritium, which then undergoes fusion with the deuterium. this deuterium-tritium fusion happens at far lower temperatures and pressures than the 4 hydrogen fusion mentioned above requires.
