What is a Nuclear Fusion Reaction?

Table of Contents☰

About Nuclear Fusion Reaction

Nuclear fusion reaction involves combining two atomic nuclei to form a single heavier one, releasing an enormous amount of energy.
Such reactions do not occur at room temperature and large amounts of energy are required to create conditions conducive to generating fusion-powered energy.
It is the same fundamental reaction that powers the sun and other stars.

What is Nuclear Fission?

Nuclear Fission is a type of nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom is split into two or more smaller nuclei, along with the release of a significant amount of energy.
Process:
- It occurs when a large, heavy atomic nucleus, typically of elements like uranium-235 or plutonium-239, absorbs a neutron.
- The nucleus becomes unstable and splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing additional neutrons, gamma rays, and a vast amount of energy in the form of kinetic energy.
- The additional neutrons can further cause fission in nearby nuclei, leading to a chain reaction.

Nuclear Reactors:

Nuclear fission is employed in nuclear reactors to generate electricity.
In these reactors, controlled fission reactions take place within fuel assemblies, typically using enriched uranium or plutonium.
The heat produced during fission is used to generate steam, which drives turbines to produce electricity.
Issues with Nuclear Fission Reactors:
- Radioactive Waste: Nuclear fission produces radioactive waste that remains hazardous for thousands of years.
- Nuclear Accidents: The potential for nuclear accidents, although rare, is a significant concern.
- High Initial Costs: Building nuclear fission reactors involves substantial upfront costs, making it a capital-intensive energy option.
- Limited Fuel Supply: Most nuclear fission reactors use enriched uranium as fuel, which is a finite resource. While there is plenty of uranium in the world, the high-grade, economically viable deposits are limited.
Advantages of Nuclear Fusion Reactors:
- Nuclear Fusion produces more energy than fission does. This means that a given amount of fuel yields much greater amounts of energy with fusion than with fission.
- It also doesn’t produce radioactive byproducts that need to be stored, or harmful carbon emissions; it simply produces inert helium and a neutron.
- Unlimited Fuel supply: The fuel to make fusion happen is simply heavy hydrogen atoms, which can be found in something that Earth has in abundance: seawater. No mining of uranium is required.
- It is much safer than nuclear fission, since fusion can’t create runaway reactions.

Q1) What is Radioactivity?

Radioactivity is a natural phenomenon by which certain unstable atomic nuclei spontaneously decay, emitting radiation in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves. This process is a result of the fundamental forces and interactions within the atomic nucleus.

Source: Unleashing Limitless Energy: US Scientists Repeat Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough