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Page added on June 22, 2017
This Breakthrough Could Solve the Most Dangerous Problem With Nuclear Fusion
Creating Nuclear Fusion could mean unlimited energy, free of any radioactive by-product or greenhouse gases. It has been the goal of physicists since the beginning of the Atomic Era.
Unfortunately achieving this goal is difficult and dangerous. But a recent breakthrough could bring us one step closer. An article published in Physical Review Letters explains the new method for solving one of the most dangerous problems for fusion reactors.
[Image Source: Matthias W Hirsch/Wikimedia Commons]
Mimicking the power of the sun
It requires immense temperatures to get nuclear atoms to combine in a fusion reactor. Enormous pressure plus temperatures in excess of 150 million degrees are required for the tricky process. The aim of fusion is to get hydrogen atoms to collide at such incredibly high speeds that they fuse into helium. The process is how our sun functions and it creates massive amounts of energy.
Catching runaway electrons is the key to fusion power
However, in this process runaway electrons can ‘bounce’ around and could destroy a reactor spontaneously. The recent breakthrough from scientists goes some way to solving this problem.
The new method aims to halt the runaway electrons by shooting heavy ions, like argon and neon into the reactor to collide with the electrons, reducing their energy and thus slowing them down. They hope that by decelerating the electrons their capability for destruction is diminished.
Co-author of the new paper Linnea Hesslow, explains, “When we can effectively decelerate runaway electrons, we are one step closer to a functional fusion reactor.”
While this is still only a relatively small step in the massive project that nuclear fusion is, every advancement is important. Hesslow goes further by saying “Many believe it will work, but it’s easier to travel to Mars than it is to achieve fusion.” We’ve got a long way to go yet, but eventually (hopefully), we’ll get there.”
ITER leading the way in the research
Most of the world’s nuclear energy research happens at ITER (“The Way” in Latin). ITER is a collaborative project of 35 nations that are building the world’s largest tokamak. A tokamak is a device that creates a powerful magnetic field to confine plasma in the shape of a torus. It is an essential part for producing controlled thermonuclear fusion power. The ITAR tokamak will prove the legitimacy of nuclear fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free energy source. The research at ITAR is crucial to the development of a functioning nuclear fusion project.
[Image Source: ITER]
The Simpsons provides pop culture background
Nuclear power and particularly nuclear weapons have been a feature in popular culture since the first nuclear weapons were debuted in August 1945 in the U.S led attack on Japan.
The most enduring reference to nuclear power in pop culture is The Simpsons. Bumbling protagonist, Homer Simpson works at a Nuclear Power Plant in his local city. The show makes constant references to the destructive nature of nuclear, although this was reportedly toned down after the writers of the show were invited to tour a San Diego nuclear power plant with the writers getting an insight into nuclear power generation.
11 Comments on "This Breakthrough Could Solve the Most Dangerous Problem With Nuclear Fusion"
Anonymouse on Thu, 22nd Jun 2017 7:57 pm
“Creating Nuclear Fusion could mean unlimited energy, free of any radioactive by-product or greenhouse gases. It has been the goal of physicists since the beginning of the Atomic Era.”
Everything *single* thing in this statement, is wrong. I dont mean honest, minor mistaken, but flat-out wrong, ie blatant falsehoods.
Unlimited energy – This is so wrong its not even wrong. I wont elaborate further because, why? I dont get paid to fact-check bullshit.
free of any radioactive by-product or greenhouse gases. – Wrong again. A fusion power station would be plenty radioactive. While it might not produce greenhouse gases in the same manner as say, a coal station does, it would produce copious amounts of GHG during ones construction(if), and no small amount as a result of routine maintenance and normal operation. But radiation and pollution free? Forget that idea.
It has been the goal of physicists since the beginning of the Atomic Era.” – There is little or no evidence to suggest this has been the goal of any physicists, or of anyone else outside of some vary narrow cliques. The implication here, is this ‘goal’ is universally subscribed too…by…who? This is an assertion, and an un-supported one at that.
When it starts off this bad, you can stop reading. There is NO penalty for being 100% wrong in amerikan ‘media’, no matter the topic or size of the org doing the writing. When it comes to ‘science’ reporting, facts and reality be damned. ( And on every other topic as well.)
Sissyfuss on Thu, 22nd Jun 2017 8:53 pm
Hot damn, this means it’s only 30 years away. Wait……what?
Go Speed Racer on Thu, 22nd Jun 2017 9:01 pm
Fusion works great. Pays for Yuppy researchers
to have a house in the burbs, kids, college fund,
wine & cheese, and a yard crew.
Obviously Fusion is already working, and perfectly.
JJHMAN on Thu, 22nd Jun 2017 9:07 pm
I worked with a number of physicists and engineers over 30 years ago on fusion power systems. There were a lot of really dedicated people trying like crazy, including me, to make a fusion reactor work. We certainly didn’t think we, including the physicists I’m an engineer), were part of a “narrow clique”. At that time we thought we were a bunch of guys and gals (not many of those) trying to solve what we thought were important energy and environmental problems.
I left because I decided that it wasn’t the right way to do things. I still think that but I understand that a lot of people think that because its been thought of it can be done. That’s the problem, methinks, not that there is a cabal of lying cliquists trying to fool us and steal our money.
Duncan Idaho on Thu, 22nd Jun 2017 9:50 pm
Fusion is always 30 years away– it is a constant, like the speed of light.
No matter if you enter in 1950, or 2100.
DerHundistlos on Thu, 22nd Jun 2017 11:05 pm
I hope this succeeds and soon.
Go Speed Racer on Fri, 23rd Jun 2017 8:22 am
The 30 year constant, should be added
to the Undergraduate College Physics Cirriculum,
and the relevant Physics Texts.
Truth Has a Liberal Bias on Fri, 23rd Jun 2017 8:55 am
Sounds like Tom Whipple’s retarded bullshit. Remember ecat? Fuck is whipple ever a fucking retard.
ALCIADA-MOLE on Fri, 23rd Jun 2017 12:49 pm
Thank you to well meaning and dedicated scientists and engineers who spend their lifetime working on this problem.
onlooker on Fri, 23rd Jun 2017 12:59 pm
This seems like an honest assessment of why it is so difficult to produce Fusion:
“So why do we have fission power, but not fusion power? The answer is pretty simple, and very frustrating to a lot of physicists out there: For fusion to occur on Earth, you need a temperature of at least 100 million degrees Celsius—six times hotter than the core of the sun. The sun is a natural fusion reactor which makes up for its measly 15 million degrees with the intense pressure created by its core’s gravity. Currently, here on Earth the amount of energy you’d need to put in to produce that kind of heat or pressure is much, much higher than what you get out in usable energy.”
Go Speed Racer on Sat, 24th Jun 2017 5:37 pm
Why is it that liberal college professors all drive Volvo Cars?
What happens if you make one sit in a Chevrolet Suburban…
does it cause a chemical reaction, quantum reaction,
generate a mini-black-hole, or some other catastrophic event?