Ignition

Fusion

Self-heating fusion plasma.

Ignition means the plasma is heated enough by its own fusion products (especially alpha particles in D–T) to sustain the reaction with little external heating. Usage varies by community.

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Articles

How it Works?

In normal conditions, atom nuclei don't fuse spontaneously. The nucleus is positively charged and electrostatic forces will repel each other long before they come so close that strong nuclear forces can start to act and bind nuclei together.

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Glossary

Lawson criterion

Condition on density, temperature, and confinement time.