Nuclear Fusion

Well, scientists have been researching fusion reactors for over 50 years, but nuclear fusion is much more difficult to achieve than nuclear fission, which is what current nuclear power technology is based on. There are many reasons for this, but while there have been tests and advancements in the field, scientists have yet to a) create a sustainable and stable nuclear fusion reaction and b) create a reaction that has a greater output than input.

No, normally it occurs at temperatures of millions of degrees. It does occur at room temperature, but not in significant amount; any possible practical use of "cold fusion" is, so far, speculation.

Yes, they are quite different. The deuterium-tritium reaction produces a helium nucleus, which is harmless. There will be an intense neutron bombardment of the enclosure holding the fusion plasma, and this will result in the structure becoming radioactive, but that will be a problem for decommissioning rather than operation.

Scientists originally promised fusion as a clean source of energy, and whilst it is not entirely so, it is far cleaner than fission. The only problem is finding how to make it work in a practical power producing plant.

Helium-4 can be a product of fusion. Hydrogen-1 cannot be produced by fusion. The uranium isotopes were probably produced by fusion in some star, long ago, and possibly not as uranium, but as something that decayed into uranium. I suppose it would be possible to produce the uranium isotopes in a lab by fusion, but I cannot imagine anyone do so, unless it was to prove a point.

Both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion require extreme conditions to start the reactions, such as high temperatures and pressures. Nuclear fission involves splitting heavy atomic nuclei, while nuclear fusion involves combining light atomic nuclei. The technical challenges differ for each process, but both are complex and require precise control to sustain the reactions.

High gravitational compression (in stars) or mechanical compression (in weapons) forces two hydrogen atoms together in nuclear fusion. Recall that the only places we see nuclear fusion happeing (so far) are in stars and in fusion weapons. In the star, the thermal energy in which these reactions is happeing is enormous. It's super hot inside the star, and the hydrogen nuclei (two protons) are forced together because of the gravitational compression. Heck, they wouldn't normally want to get anywhere near each other, let alone fuse to become a heavier particle. But the extreme gravity and extreme thermal energy there allow this to happen.

In a nuclear fusion weapon, we use a fission device to create the mechanical compression (in place of the star's gravity) to force hydrogen nuclei together to get them to fuse. The fission device also creates the thermal energy needed. This is the simple explanation of this fundamental nuclear reaction. Links can be found below to learn more.

No, a nuclear chain reaction refers to a self-sustaining series of nuclear fissions where the neutrons released in one reaction cause further fissions. Fusion, on the other hand, is the process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing large amounts of energy in the process.

Fusion reactions occur under immense pressures, such as those found in the centre of the sun. To artificially produce fusion reactions here on earth, we either use MCF (magnetic confinement fusion) or ICF (inertial confinement fusion) to create the pressure and temperature necessary for small elements to fuse together, releasing energy.

It is unclear whether this will work, but there are possibilities.

One way to do this is to create so-called light wells, where interference in the light waves can trap atoms. The atoms are then moved by adjusting the light waves, possibly causing them to fuse. The technical problems with doing this are very great, and there is a significant probability it will not happen.

There may be other ways of using lasers for controlled nuclear fusion.

The next nuclear fusion cycle after helium fusion in a massive star is carbon fusion. This process involves fusing helium nuclei to form carbon. Carbon fusion typically occurs in the core of a massive star after helium fusion is completed.

It affects earth because the high temperature of the sun causes radiation (visible light, infra-red, and ultra-violet rays) to be emitted and we receive some of this. The fusion reaction itself does not directly affect earth.

Nuclear fusion takes place under conditions of extreme temperature and pressure, such as those found in the core of stars like the Sun. These conditions are necessary to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between positively charged atomic nuclei and fuse them together to release energy.

two separate nuclei from one nucleus - APEX

Fusion and fission are opposing processes. In the sun, hydrogen atoms are fused together to form helium. On earth, the most commonly used element is uranium, which is split into smaller atoms.

Nuclear fusion involves combining light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy in the process. This process releases energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation and kinetic energy of the particles involved, which can cause the resulting nucleus to have less mass than the original nuclei that fused. The mass lost is converted into energy according to E=mc^2, as described by Einstein's theory of relativity.

The temperature of nuclear fusion is typically around 15 million degrees Celsius. This extreme temperature is required to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between positively charged atomic nuclei and allow them to fuse together to release energy.

release a large amount of energy, typically in the form of heat and light. This process is what powers the sun and other stars, producing elements like helium from hydrogen. Fusion reactions have the potential to generate clean and abundant energy on Earth, but are currently technologically challenging to sustain in a controlled manner.

Hydrogen is the most likely substance to undergo nuclear fusion. In the core of stars, hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium through the fusion process, releasing vast amounts of energy in the form of heat and light.

The process when protons and neutrons react during nuclear fusion is called nucleosynthesis. This is the process by which new atomic nuclei are formed from existing protons and neutrons.

A star

No, nuclear fusion does not convert oxygen to hydrogen. Fusion involves the joining (fusion) of lighter atoms, such as hydrogen isotopes like deuterium and tritium, to form heavier elements like helium. This process releases large amounts of energy.

Yes, nuclear fusion is feasible as a potential source of clean energy. Both magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) and inertial confinement fusion (ICF) are promising approaches being researched to achieve practical fusion energy production, each with its own advantages and challenges. Continued advancements in these technologies have the potential to make fusion energy a reality in the future.

Nuclear fusion is feasible, and both magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) and inertial confinement fusion (ICF) are promising approaches to achieve it. MCF uses strong magnetic fields to confine and heat the plasma, while ICF involves using intense laser or particle beams to compress and heat the fuel. Both methods have made significant progress in recent years towards achieving sustained fusion reactions.

The costs of nuclear fusion energy are currently high due to the complexity and advanced technology required for fusion reactions. Research and development costs are significant, as well as costs associated with building and maintaining fusion reactors. However, advancements in technology and increased investment in fusion energy could help lower costs in the future.

The most common fusion in the sun is two hydrogen atoms fusing to produce helium. There are different ways this can happen. Two deuterium atoms may fuse, or a deuterium atom may fuse with a tritium atom, or two tritium atoms may fuse. Since the half life of tritium is rather short, the overwhelming majority of these atoms are deuterium atoms. The commonest form of hydrogen, known as protium, does not take part in the process.