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- Fusion technology
Is this a 'big deal' ?
https://www.llnl.gov/news/national-...nt-puts-researchers-threshold-fusion-ignition
https://www.llnl.gov/news/national-...nt-puts-researchers-threshold-fusion-ignition
I NIF Reaches Threshold of Fusion Ignition
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The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has reportedly achieved a significant milestone by reaching the threshold of fusion ignition, which is considered a major advancement in nuclear fusion research. The discussion highlights curiosity about the specific changes made in recent experiments compared to previous trials that may have contributed to this success. Participants are eager to understand the implications of this breakthrough for future energy production and its potential impact on the field of nuclear engineering. The achievement is seen as a pivotal moment in the pursuit of sustainable fusion energy. Overall, this milestone raises important questions about the future of fusion technology and its feasibility as a viable energy source.
My question is about the following graph:
I keep on reading that fusing atoms up until Fe-56 doesn’t cost energy and only releases binding energy. However, I understood that fusing atoms also require energy to overcome the positive charges of the protons. Where does that energy go after fusion? Does it go into the mass of the newly fused atom, escape as heat or is the released binding energy shown in the graph actually the net energy after subtracting the required fusion energy?
I...