1. Fusion

2. Examples ● Fusion is the reaction that produces the energy in the sun

3. Examples ● The power of the hydrogen bomb lies in fusion

4. What is fusion? ● The process when multiple particles in high temperatures join together to form a heavier nucleus, combined with release or absorption of energy ● In the fusion process, energy is generally ● released if the atoms are lighter ● absorbed if the atoms are heavier – than iron (Fe 26) or nickel (Ni 28)

5. The reaction

6. The D-T fuel cycle ● D stands for deuterium (heavy water) which is a natural isotope of hydrogen – 0.015% of all naturally occurring hydrogen on Earth – can be extracted from the sea ● T stands for tritium which is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen – can be breeded from Lithium (Li 3)

7. The reaction ● Requirements – over a 100 million degrees Celcius temperature – a pressure of over 8 atmospheres (800+ kPa) ● The deuterium and tritium fuses together producing a helium atom, a neutron and a significant mount of energy – D + T -> He-4 + n + 5.2x 10^-13 J

8. Plasma ● 4th state of matter (solid, liquid, gas) ● Ionized gas – one or more electrons moving freely, not being bound to an atom or molecule ● Electrically conductive – responds strongly to electromagnetic fields

9. Tsar Bomba ● Tsar Bomba, 1961 ● Yield of 50 megatons – All explosives used in WW2 multiplied by 10 – Seen and felt from 1000km away – 3rd degree burns 100km away – Mushroom cloud 60km high – 5 Richters – 5.4×1024 watts = 1% power output of the Sun

10. Tsar Bomba

11. Fusion power ● The idea of creating fusion processes in a controlled environment to produce energy ● Current projects: – JET (Joint European Torus) – ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) – JT-60 (Japan Torus) – KSTAR (Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Reactor) – DEMO (DEMOnstration Power Plant)

12. Fusion power

13. Tokamak ● Tokamak comes from a Russian word – “Toroidal chamber in magnetic coils” in English – Donut shaped ● Most commonly used reactor-type in fusion- experiments

14. JET ● Oxfordshire, UK

15. JET

17. ITER ● Cadarache, France ~2016

18. DEMO ● Prototype commercial fusion reactor ● 25 times as much power as is required for ignition ● 2 gigawatts

19. Problems with fusion power ● The heat ● The radioactivity in the surrounding materials ● Plasma confinement

20. + - ● Ups and downs + Safe + Unlimited fuel + No pollution* - A small amount of radioactive materials - Tritium-leakage

21. Alternatives ● Cold fusion ● “Bubble” fusion ● Laser inertial devices

22. Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvkl_UNFpeo