fusion reactions
Stars' power source
Fusion reactions are nuclear reactions in which light atomic nuclei combine to form heavier nuclei, releasing enormous amounts of energy.
This is the process that powers stars, including the sun, where hydrogen atoms fuse into helium.
Scientists have long pursued controlled fusion as a potential clean energy source: The reactor achieved sustained fusion reactions for the first time.
Contrast with fission, which splits heavy atoms apart.
- inertial confinementTrapping via rapid compression
- deuteriumHydrogen isotope with neutron
- tokamakPlasma confinement device
- plasmaElectrified matter state
- clean energyPower from sustainable sources
thermonuclear · hydrogen bomb · tritium · cross-section · high temperature · quantum tunneling · star · energy release · high pressure · sun · sun's core · power plant · isotopes · helium · vacuum chamber · containment · chain · hydrogen
fusion reactionsnuclear fission
Atomic core division
fission · atomic fission · splitting the atom · nuclear decay · radioactive decay
fusion reactionschemical reactions
Processes changing substance composition
fusion reactionsfission
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
splitting · dissociation · division · separation · fragmentation