| Basic
Introduction to Fusion
Burning Plasma--Bringing a Star to Earth Brochure "The Surprising Benefits of Creating a Star" Other useful Websites Sites for Important Fusion Documents |
Fusion is the power source of the sun and the stars. On Earth, our challenge is to understand and harness this
basic energy process for the benefit of humankind. The large quantity of energy released by the sun and the stars is the result of the conversion of matter into energy. This occurs when the lightest atom, hydrogen, is heated to very high temperatures forming a special gas called "plasma". In this plasma, hydrogen atoms combine, or "fuse", to form a heavier atom, helium. In the process of fusing, some of the hydrogen involved is converted directly into large amounts of energy. There are two primary reasons for pursuing fusion research: the furthering of our understanding of the behavior of plasmas that make up most of the known universe, and the creation of a new energy source. This dual nature of fusion research makes it one of the most exciting and promising frontiers of science and technology. The quest for fusion fostered rapid development of plasma science, which found many other applications, ranging from the understanding of astrophysical phenomena to the processing of semiconductors for use in our computers. Fusion energy would complement renewable energy technologies that, while environmentally attractive, may not have the capacity to power large cities and industries. Fusion offers a significant mix of potential advantages when compared to other long term energy sources like fossil fuels and nuclear fission. Fusion fuels are abundant and readily available to all nations. Using fusion energy to generate electricity will neither contribute to global warming or air pollution nor will it create long-lived radioactive waste. Steady progress in fusion science and technology research strengthens the vision of fusion as an ultimate energy source for future electricity generating power plants. |