Can We Create a Sun on Earth?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter AnthreX
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of creating a sun-like fusion reaction on Earth, exploring the potential benefits of such a development in relation to energy production and the use of fossil fuels. Participants delve into the scientific principles behind fusion, including the processes and challenges involved in achieving sustained reactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the possibility of creating a sun, suggesting that it could eliminate the need for fossil fuels for heat production.
  • Another participant identifies the concept as "fusion" and notes that research is ongoing, albeit on a smaller scale than the sun.
  • A participant inquires about the success of current fusion trials, mentioning a brief duration of reactions and seeking clarification on the process involved.
  • One participant describes a method involving tritium and deuterium, highlighting the use of powerful lasers to initiate the reaction, while also noting the difficulty in containing the sample due to repulsion between ions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and knowledge about fusion, with no consensus on the current state of success or the specifics of the processes involved. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the feasibility and practical implementation of fusion as a sun-like energy source.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unclear definitions of terms like "success" in fusion trials, the dependence on specific experimental setups, and unresolved questions about the duration and containment of reactions.

AnthreX
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is it possible to make a sun ?
coz if we do , than we don't need things like fossil fuels to produce heat
 
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I think they call this "fusion." And yes, we are working on it (on a much smaller scale than the sun, naturally).
 
Case closed.
 
any sucesses? on the trials ?
i heard that they can make the reaction going for like
1 mili second
but does anyone know the process ? like.. how they actually do it ?
all i know is that, it starts from hydrogen or some other element that is being heated up with really strong lasers, and it creates plasma or something
need some opinions thanx
 
I heard that they put a small sample of tritium and deuterium on something that looks like the tip of a pen, and then concentrate a lot of powerful lasers from all directions. This heats the atoms up and (almost) started the reaction. They couldn't contain the smaple long enough for it to be heated up enough, because the atoms(ions, I should say) repelled each other too strongly.
 

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