Is nuclear fusion without radioactive waste possible?

[Chiel555]

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Is nuclear fusion without radioactive waste possible ?

 

[Astronuc]

Is nuclear fusion without radioactive waste possible ?

Not as yet. This would require an aneutronic fusion reaction, i.e., a fusion reaction that does not produce neutrons.

One reaction of interest is the p + ¹¹B reaction, which requires very high temperatures, with corresponding high pressures.

The easiest reaction to accomplish is the d + t fusion, but that produces 14.1 MeV neutrons, which escape the plasma or reaction site and eventually find an atomic nucleus in the surrounding structure. A nucleus absorbs a neutron, increases the atomic mass by 1 amu, which most of the is radioactive. Over time, the structural material becomes radioactive.

d+d fusion is also possible, but produces a neutron about 50% of the time.

Another reaction is d + ³He -> p + ⁴He, but that requires a higher temperature than d+d or d+t. However, with d in the plasma, some d + d reactions will necessarily occur.

The higher the Z (atomic number) the greater the losses due to recombination, bremsstrahlung radiation, not to mention the increased electron pressure (Z electrons to maintain charge neutrality).