fusion reactors
Artificial sun engines
Fusion reactors are devices designed to generate energy by fusing atomic nuclei—typically hydrogen isotopes—replicating the process that powers the sun.
Unlike fission reactors, which split heavy atoms, fusion promises abundant energy with minimal radioactive waste.
Despite decades of research, sustained fusion that produces more energy than it consumes remains an engineering challenge: Practical fusion reactors are always twenty years away, the joke goes.
Involving nuclear fusion heat
- Lawson criterionMinimum conditions for fusion ignition
- ignitionStarting combustion process
- breakevenNo profit, no loss
- energy densityStored power per unit
nucleosynthesis · cross-section · instabilities · turbulence
Hydrogen isotope with neutron
Plasma confinement device
- magnetic confinementRestraining plasma via fields
- inertial confinementTrapping via rapid compression
- cryogenicsUltralow temperature science
- toroidalDoughnut-form geometry
Producing no CO2
- zero-emissionProducing no pollutants
- decarbonizationEliminating fossil fuel emissions
- low-impactMinimally stressful on body
- baseload powerMinimum constant electrical output
Sudden important advance
- commercializationProfit-driven market introduction
- power plantFacility producing electrical energy
- electricity generationCreating electrical current industrially
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
spacecraft · space exploration · pilot plant · funding · timeline
thermonuclear
Involving nuclear fusion heat
- Lawson criterionMinimum conditions for fusion ignition
- ignitionStarting combustion process
- breakevenNo profit, no loss
energy density · nucleosynthesis · cross-section · instabilities · turbulence
deuterium
Hydrogen isotope with neutron
tokamak
Plasma confinement device
- magnetic confinementRestraining plasma via fields
- inertial confinementTrapping via rapid compression
- cryogenicsUltralow temperature science
carbon-free
Producing no CO2
- zero-emissionProducing no pollutants
- decarbonizationEliminating fossil fuel emissions
- low-impactMinimally stressful on body
breakthrough
Sudden important advance
- commercializationProfit-driven market introduction
- power plantFacility producing electrical energy
- electricity generationCreating electrical current industrially
propulsion · spacecraft · space exploration · pilot plant · funding · timeline
- power sourcessolar power, electricity, wind power, steam, hydro power
- power systemsgenerators, turbines, power plants, power stations, electricity
- generation shipscolonists, descendants, life support, cryo chamber, hull
- Fusion Energybreakeven, magnetic confinement, deuterium, tritium, tokamak
- terraformingterraforming, climate control, greenhouse gases, Mars colonization, Mars colony
- cryogenicsliquid nitrogen, cryogenic, cryogenics, cryogenic storage, cryostat
fusion reactorscoal plants
Fossil-fueled power stations
natural gas plants · diesel generators · steam engines · internal combustion engines · hydroelectric dams
confusion, confuse, fuse, fusion, infuse, fused, diffuse, profuse, infusion