Thermonuclear fusion

Thermonuclear fusion is a way to achieve nuclear fusion by using extremely high temperatures. There are two forms of thermonuclear fusion: uncontrolled, in which the resulting energy is released in an uncontrolled manner, as it is in thermonuclear weapons such as the "hydrogen bomb", and controlled, where the fusion reactions take place in an environment allowing some of the resulting energy to be harnessed for constructive purposes. This article focuses on the latter.

Temperature requirements

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles, so by heating the material it will gain energy. After reaching sufficient temperature, given by the Lawson criterion, the energy of accidental collisions within the plasma is high enough to overcome the Coulomb barrier and the particles may fuse together.

In a deuterium–tritium fusion reaction, for example, the energy necessary to overcome the Coulomb barrier is 0.1 MeV. Converting between energy and temperature shows that the 0.1 MeV barrier would be overcome at a temperature in excess of 1.2 billion Kelvin.

Latest News for: Thermonuclear fusion

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At COP28, John Kerry unveils nuclear fusion strategy as a source of clean energy

The Lawton Constitution 06 Dec 2023
“We are edging ever-closer to a fusion-powered reality ... In southern France, 35 nations are collaborating on an experimental machine to harness fusion energy, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale, carbon-free source of energy ... Whyte said he knew then fusion had changed forever....
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Interview: ITER director-general values China's contribution, support to nuclear fusion research

Xinhua 05 Dec 2023
I gained a lot of experience more recently and I also witnessed in my recent trip to China the level of development in fusion research in general," said Barabaschi in a recent interview with Xinhua. ITER, or International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, aims at creating energy through a fusion process similar to that of the Sun....
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US unveils global strategy to commercialize fusion as source of clean energy during COP28

The Mercury 05 Dec 2023
“We are edging ever-closer to a fusion-powered reality ... In southern France, 35 nations are collaborating on an experimental machine to harness fusion energy, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale, carbon-free source of energy ... Whyte said he knew then fusion had changed forever....
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The world’s largest experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor is up and running

Popular Science 04 Dec 2023
A view of the assembled experimental JT-60SA tokamak nuclear fusion facility outside Tokyo, Japan ... Along with its still-in-construction sibling, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Europe, the projects are intended solely to demonstrate scalable fusion’s feasibility....
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World's largest fusion project on good track despite technical setbacks

Beijing News 03 Dec 2023
ITER stands for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, and tokamak is a magnetic confinement device being developed to produce controlled thermonuclear fusion power ... Three conditions must be fulfilled to achieve fusion in a laboratory ... He welcomed the increase in public and private investment in fusion. "Fusion is not just ITER....
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The Big Bang never happened – so what did?

Asiatimes 03 Dec 2023
He aims to prove that with the work of his own company, LPPFusion, on the so-called dense plasma focus approach to fusion ... Instead, the processes producing these structures, such as thermonuclear fusion in stars that produce chemical elements, must be seen as just as fundamental as the structures....
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Feature: World's largest fusion project on good track despite technical setbacks

Xinhua 30 Nov 2023
ITER stands for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, and tokamak is a magnetic confinement device being developed to produce controlled thermonuclear fusion power ... Three conditions must be fulfilled to achieve fusion in a laboratory ... He welcomed the increase in public and private investment in fusion. "Fusion is not just ITER....

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