Which atoms can be artificially fused?

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In summary, nuclear fusion research is primarily focused on the fusion of hydrogen isotopes for the production of electric power. However, all nuclei can participate in artificial fusion reactions and the feasibility of using other elements, such as oxygen and sodium, is being explored. The ease of fusing hydrogen and its abundance in stars make it the most promising fuel source for fusion power plants.
  • #1
theguynextdoor
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Nuclear fusion research focus on the fusion of hydrogen istopes and its potential forthe production of electric power.

But is hydrogen the only element that can be artificiallly fused??

would it be possible to use a farnswrth or polywell fusor or any other type of usion reactor to fuse for example oxygen or sodium?
 
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  • #2
theguynextdoor said:
Nuclear fusion research focus on the fusion of hydrogen istopes and its potential forthe production of electric power.

But is hydrogen the only element that can be artificiallly fused??

would it be possible to use a farnswrth or polywell fusor or any other type of usion reactor to fuse for example oxygen or sodium?

Welcome to the PF.

Are you familiar with the Nuclear Binding Energy Curve?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_binding_energy

:smile:
 
  • #3
in practice every element can be fused up to Fe in [big] stars. After Fe the stars "explode" in supernovae and then heavier nuclei can be formed...There are also the Big Bang nucleosynthesis, where nuclei up to Li were formed- because the next is an exceptional nucleus (it's Be which prefers to decay into 2 alpha particles...and some others- examples can be found in the element abundances graphs). Eg as in here:
http://universe-review.ca/I14-08-elements.jpg

the easiest thing to do is the fusion of H-H...this can also be seen by a generally widely known astrophysic statement:
The stars when burning their Hydrogen have a big core [the nuclear fusion happens in the core of the star]... as heavier nuclei are formed, in order for the stars to keep burning their fuels, their core keeps getting smaller and smaller (for big stars that reaches Fe, where then the core collapses). This happens because they start needing more energy (pressure/temperature) to keep on going and overcoming the gravitational collapse. When the next energy needed is not enough, the collapse occurs.
That's also seen by the nuclear binding energy curve. In stars also, the fusion of Be can be avoided, and thus they can reach to heavier nuclei...
For that you need to check the chain reactions happening at the stars and those which happened in Big Bang.
 
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  • #4
All nuclei can participate in artificial fusion reactions. It is no problem to get fusion reactions of all atoms with particle accelerators - the big challenge is to make fusion efficient enough for a power plant. There, hydrogen (more specific, the heavy isotopes deuterium and tritium) is the most promising fuel.
 

1. What is artificial fusion?

Artificial fusion is the process of combining two or more atoms to form a new, heavier atom. This is different from natural fusion, which occurs in stars and other high-energy environments.

2. What atoms can be artificially fused?

Any atoms with a positive charge, known as ions, can be artificially fused. However, the most commonly used atoms for fusion are hydrogen isotopes, such as deuterium and tritium.

3. How is artificial fusion achieved?

Artificial fusion is achieved by using high temperatures and pressures to force atoms together and overcome their natural repulsive forces. This can be done using powerful lasers, magnetic fields, or particle accelerators.

4. What are the potential applications of artificial fusion?

Artificial fusion has the potential to provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy, as it produces no greenhouse gases or long-lived radioactive waste. It is also used in creating new elements for scientific research and medical purposes.

5. What are the challenges of artificial fusion?

The main challenge of artificial fusion is achieving a net energy gain, meaning that the energy produced from the fusion reaction must be greater than the energy required to initiate and sustain it. Scientists are also working to find ways to control and contain the extreme temperatures and pressures involved in fusion reactions.

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