Nuclear Fusion Masterclass

A Deep Dive Into Nuclear Fusion

What Is Nuclear Fusion – The Science

Nuclear fusion is the process of two light atomic nuclei combining to form a heavier nucleus. This releases energy in the process. Nuclear fusion is the process that powers stars, just like our sun.

Its allure is the prediction that it will provide cheap, abundant energy due to the hydrogen used in the reaction. We can find hydrogen all over the place. It is the most abundant element in the universe. Utilising this on a global scale will be one of the biggest innovations the energy sector has ever seen. This won’t be any time soon but let’s dive into nuclear fusion so if we do see nuclear fusion on a global scale, we’ll understand how, and why the pursuit of it as an energy production method is occurring.

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The Process

1) Temperature and Pressure. – For fusion to occur, extremely high temperatures and pressures are required. This is to force nuclei together which would otherwise repel each other due to electrostatic repulsion. This makes nuclear fusion difficult from a practical and economic standpoint.

2) Plasma Formation and Ionisation. – In fusion, the hydrogen gas becomes ionized. Ionisation is the process by which an atom acquires a positive or negative charge by gaining or losing electrons. The gas then forms a plasma. This plasma contains the isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium (hydrogen isotope with one neutron) and tritium (hydrogen isotope with two neutrons). The plasma also contains free electrons.

3) Particle Emission. – In a fusion reaction, deuterium, and tritium fuse together to form a helium nucleus and a fast-moving neutron. The helium nucleus is also called an alpha particle because it has the two electrons removed that are usually present in a helium atom.