Nuclear Fusion

News: Researchers and investors are investing billions in nuclear fusion as a potential green energy source, but a Nature Energy study warns that cost assumptions may misguide investments.

About Nuclear Fusion

• Nuclear fusion is a process where light atomic nuclei combine to release a large amount of energy.
• Process: Two light nuclei are brought very close under very high temperature and pressure, allowing strong nuclear forces to combine them and release energy.
• Fuel: It uses light elements like isotopes of hydrogen, especially deuterium and tritium, which form helium and a neutron after reaction.
• Conditions: Extremely high temperature of about 100 million °C and high pressure are required to overcome electrostatic repulsion between nuclei.
• Methods: It is achieved through magnetic fusion and laser-based inertial fusion, where plasma state is created for the reaction.
• Differences between Nuclear Fission and Fusion
  • Nature of Reaction: Fission involves splitting of a heavy nucleus, whereas fusion involves combining light nuclei into a heavier nucleus.
  • Fuel Used: Fission uses heavy elements like uranium or plutonium, while fusion uses light elements like hydrogen isotopes.
  • Energy Process: Fission produces energy through a chain reaction, whereas fusion does not depend on a chain reaction.
  • Waste and Safety: Fission generates long-lived radioactive waste, whereas fusion produces minimal long-lived radioactive waste.
  • Examples: Nuclear reactors and atomic bombs are based on fission, whereas the Sun and hydrogen bombs are based on fusion.