1. Controlling nuclear fusion
An “easy” fusion reaction

2. Fusion depends strongly on temperature
Thermal Energy E = kBT
Temperature T
Reaction Rate
(keV)
 104 K/eV
(K) 10
104
Fusion reactor

3. Proton tunnels through barrier
Controlling fusion
The big obstacle: Proton-proton repulsion (“Coulomb barrier”)
Create a plasma (electrons and nuclei separated).
Heat it to 100 million degrees.
Keep the hot plasma from the walls.
Find a way to extract the heat produced by fusion.
Energy
Distance
Thermal Energy
ProtonEnergy
Proton Distance
Proton tunnels through barrier

4. Outline of a fusion power plant
Is it feasible ?
Lots of challenges, for example blankets of liquid lithium as walls for the 100 million degree plasma.

5. Interior of Tokamak test reactor

6. JET (Joint European Torus) test reactor
Empty With plasma

7. International fusion reactor ITER
Plasma confinement torus

8. Goals for developing fusion reactors
The Future for Fusion Power
When?
Power
Duration
1984-current MW 1 second /3
MW 15 minutes
2040 ?? GW days/steady state
Output
Input
Break even = 1
JET
ITER ??

9. ITER at Cadarache (near Marseille, France)