1. Nuclear Fusion - SAMI 2010

2. Introduction “Every time you look up at the sky, every one of those points of light is a reminder that fusion power is extractable from hydrogen and other light elements” -Carl Sagan, 1991

3. Background Fusion Basics

4. Nuclear Power Nuclear fission –Where heavy atoms, such as uranium, are split apart releasing energy that holds the atom together Nuclear fusion –Where light atoms, such as hydrogen, are joined together to release energy

5. The fuel of fusion

6. Even though the nuclear force is much stronger than the electromagnetic one, the RANGE of the nuclear one is much smaller. Range of Electromagnetic force Range of nuclear force nucleus

7. These don’t get close enough to fuse together!

8. These get close enough to fuse together!

9. States of Matter Plasma is sometimes referred to as the fourth state of matter

10. Plasma Atoms In plasma the electrons are stripped away from the nucleus Like charges repel –Examples of plasma on earth: Fluorescent lights Lightning Neon signs

11. Typical Plasmas Neon Signs Thermonuclear Lightning Fluorescent Lights

12. Plasma makes up the sun and the stars

13. Characteristics of Typical Plasmas

14. HOW FUSION REACTIONS WORK

15. P-P Fusion Reaction "P-P": Solar Fusion Chain

16. Inexhaustible Energy Supply Deuterium –Constitutes a small percentage of the hydrogen in water Separated by electrolysis 1 barrel (42 gallons) water = ¾ oz. D = 32,000 gallons of oil Tritium –n + Li T + He –Lithium is plentiful Earth’s crust Oceans –Savannah, Georgia –Canada, Europe, Japan

17. D-T Fusion Reactions D + T => He-4 + n

18. An enormous payoff The fraction of “lost” mass when H fuses into He is 38 parts out of 10,000 This lost mass is converted into energy The energy released from 1 gram of DT = the energy from about 2400 gallons of oil

19. Energy-Releasing Reactions ChemicalFissionFusion Sample Reaction C + O 2 -> CO 2 n + U-235 -> Ba-143 + Kr-91 + 2 nH-2 + H-3 -> He-4 + n Typical Inputs (to Power Plant) Bituminous Coal UO 2 (3% U-235 + 97% U-238)Deuterium & Lithium Typical Reaction Temp. (K) 700100010 8 Energy Released per kg of Fuel (J/kg) 3.3 x 10 7 2.1 x 10 12 3.4 x 10 14

20. E=mc 2 Einstein’s equation that equates energy and mass –E= energy –M= mass –C= speed of light (3 x 10 8 m/sec) –Mass “lost “ in fusion is converted to energy

21. Plasma Confinement & Heating Magnetic Electromagnetic Waves Ohmic Heating (by electric currents) Neutral Particle Beams (atomic hydrogen) Compression (by magnetic fields) Fusion Reactions (primarily D+T) Tokamak Schematic Laser-beam-driven Fusion Inertial Compression (implosion driven by laser or ion beams, or by X-rays from laser or ion beams) Fusion Reactions (primarily D+T) Gravity Compression (gravity) Fusion Reactions (such as the p-p chain) Stars & Galaxies

22. Fusion By Magnetic Confinement

24. NOVA Machine- Inertial Confinement

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