UCLA Researchers Produce Nuclear Fusion

AI Thread Summary
A recent tabletop experiment has successfully achieved nuclear fusion under laboratory conditions, a development that could contribute to clean energy solutions. However, the energy output was minimal, producing only 900 neutrons per second, which is insufficient to address global energy demands. The findings will be detailed in an upcoming issue of Nature. The experiment utilized a pyroelectric crystal, specifically lithium tantalate, to accelerate deuterons towards a deuterated target. Due to the low yield, the lead researcher, Putterman, is contemplating the commercialization of this technology primarily as a portable neutron generator rather than a viable energy source.
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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=753&e=1&u=/ap/20050427/ap_on_sc/tabletop_fusion

LOS ANGELES - A tabletop experiment created nuclear fusion — long seen as a possible clean energy solution — under lab conditions, scientists reported. But the amount of energy produced was too little to be seen as a breakthrough in solving the world's energy needs.

The article says that the results of this experiment will be published in Thursday's edition of Nature. I'm sure many of you have subscriptions. Would anybody care to recap?
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
I'll check it out tomorrow (assuming it'll be online as of the publication date).

- Warren
 
Thanks Warren.
 
ZapperZ posted about it in Nuclear Engineering forum.

Table-top fusion?
Apparently so - using pyroelectric crystal (Li tantalate) to produce a potential which accelerate deutrons at a deuterated target. Low yield though - 900 n/s.
 
Astronuc said:
Low yield though - 900 n/s.
That's why Putterman said he's only considering commercializing this as a portable neutron generator.
 

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