Candyman,theCandyman said:I asked one of the professors in the nuclear engineering department recently how inertial fusion could be a viable energy source if so little matter was fused. He told me that I would be suprised and said that I should do the calculation myself. I found the volume of the pellet, but now I have the problem of finding the pressure of the gas inside it. Does anyone know what it is?
An inertial fusion pellet is a small, solid sphere made of deuterium and tritium, two isotopes of hydrogen. It is designed to be compressed and heated through the use of high-powered lasers, causing a fusion reaction that releases a large amount of energy.
Inertial fusion pellets are created through a process called "target fabrication." This involves depositing a thin layer of deuterium and tritium onto a small plastic or metal sphere, which is then frozen to form a solid pellet.
The main purpose of inertial fusion pellets is to provide a controlled and efficient way of producing fusion energy. The energy released from the fusion reaction can potentially be harnessed to generate electricity, with minimal environmental impact and no greenhouse gas emissions.
One of the main challenges of using inertial fusion pellets is achieving the necessary compression and heating to initiate a fusion reaction. This requires precise timing and alignment of the high-powered lasers, and any imperfections or instabilities can disrupt the fusion process.
Aside from producing fusion energy, inertial fusion pellets also have potential applications in various scientific experiments and research. They can be used to study extreme conditions of temperature and pressure, and to simulate nuclear reactions that occur in stars and other astrophysical phenomena.