Lesson 01 of 612 min

How Does Thermonuclear Fusion Work?

Thermonuclear fusion powers the stars and produces 10 times more energy than fission. Mastering it in Earth conditions would provide an endless source of energy, but many technological challenges have yet to be solved.

Using the energy of atomic nuclei is certainly one of the most promising ways to produce a sufficient amount of electricity and fully satisfy humankind’s energy needs. So far, we have mastered the simpler fission of heavy nuclei but for several decades, research and experimental work has been going on to master the fusion of the nuclei of light elements which could provide us with up to 10 times more energy than the fission of uranium nuclei. Imitating thermonuclear fusion, which powers the entire universe and our Sun, will not be easy at all under Earth conditions. But experts are gradually managing to solve all the technological challenges and related problems and in the near future, the efforts will be crowned with a functional thermonuclear power reactor.

Back to course Next lesson →

Keep exploring

Articles

Why it Works?

In small atoms, from hydrogen to sodium, the binding energy per nucleon increases with an increasing atomic number. This is because each additional nucleon is attracted by other nearby nucleons, and thus more tightly bound to the whole.

5 min read

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.

5 min read

Glossary

Fusion

Joining of light nuclei.

Plasma

Ionized gas of charged particles.

Lawson criterion

Condition on density, temperature, and confinement time.

← Back to Nuclear Fusion Courses