fusion reaction
Stars' energy source
A fusion reaction is a nuclear process in which light atomic nuclei combine to form heavier ones, releasing enormous energy.
This is how the sun and other stars generate power—hydrogen atoms fusing into helium.
Fusion differs from fission, which splits heavy atoms apart.
Achieving controlled fusion for power generation remains an elusive goal: Scientists have pursued fusion reactions as a clean energy source for decades.
- atomic nucleiCentral atomic masses
- magnetic confinementRestraining plasma via fields
- deuteriumHydrogen isotope with neutron
- plasmaElectrified matter state
- tritiumHydrogen's radioactive isotope
tokamak · Lawson criterion · inertial confinement · cross-section · thermonuclear · helium-4 · power plant · clean energy · neutron · sun's core · Star Trek · carbon neutrality · white dwarf · breakeven · energy release · energy security · supernova · hydrogen bomb
- fusiontokamak, blending, merging, coalescence, amalgamation
- Fusion Energybreakeven, magnetic confinement, deuterium, tritium, tokamak
- Nuclear Testsnuclear test, nuclear explosion, underground test, atmospheric test, weapons test
fusion reactionfission reaction
Nucleus divides into fragments
nuclear fission · fission · atomic fission · splitting the atom · radioactive decay
fusion, reaction, fuse, fused, fuses, fusing, fusible, infuse, infusion