thermonuclear reactor
Star-heat power plant
A thermonuclear reactor is a device designed to produce energy through nuclear fusion—the process that powers the sun, where light atomic nuclei combine under extreme heat and pressure to form heavier nuclei, releasing enormous energy.
Unlike fission reactors, which split atoms, fusion reactors attempt to harness the joining of hydrogen isotopes.
No commercially viable thermonuclear reactor yet exists, though experimental projects like ITER pursue the goal: Scientists hope thermonuclear reactors will one day provide nearly limitless clean energy.
- Lawson criterionMinimum conditions for fusion ignition
- plasmaElectrified matter state
- inertial confinementTrapping via rapid compression
- tokamakPlasma confinement device
- vacuum chamberEnclosure with removed atmosphere
deuterium · tritium · cryogenics · magnetic confinement · sustainable power · clean energy · international collaboration · waste management · cooling systems · heat exchangers · breakeven · carbon neutrality · energy transition · power grid · energy independence · JET · research facility · public perception
thermonuclear reactornatural gas plant
Facility refining underground hydrocarbons
diesel generator · internal combustion engine · hydroelectric dam · wind turbine · steam engine
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