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bill nye scienceguy!
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just curious.
Astronuc,Astronuc said:In inertial confinement, small pellets of frozen (DT) are dropped into a chamber and then blasted with lasers or electron beams. Lasers are preferred since they avoid using charges which are deflected by magnetic and electric fields. The main problems are the cryogenic storage, large power systems for lasers (or e-beams), reliably hitting the target, and then conversion of the thermonuclear energy into useful power.
Astronuc said:There are two methods proposed for fusion - inertial confinement and magnetic confinement.
In inertial confinement, small pellets of frozen (DT) are dropped into a chamber and then blasted with lasers or electron beams. Lasers are preferred since they avoid using charges which are deflected by magnetic and electric fields. The main problems are the cryogenic storage, large power systems for lasers (or e-beams), reliably hitting the target, and then conversion of the thermonuclear energy into useful power.
vanesch,vanesch said:It was my (naive?) understanding that inertial confinement was not really a technique to commercially generate energy, but rather to study thermonuclear reactions and extreme matter states ? In other words, make tiny hydrogen bombs and study them in the lab. Is there a serious attempt, through this channel, to progress towards commercial power generation (in the style of ITER and its possible successor) ?
My question is an ignorant repetition of what my former professor of plasma physics told the class, now about 20 years ago.
As Morbius indicated, ICF is considered as a possibility for producing electrical power. However, like magnetic confinement, there are some high technical hurdles to overcome.vanesch said:It was my (naive?) understanding that inertial confinement was not really a technique to commercially generate energy, but rather to study thermonuclear reactions and extreme matter states ? In other words, make tiny hydrogen bombs and study them in the lab. Is there a serious attempt, through this channel, to progress towards commercial power generation (in the style of ITER and its possible successor)?
My question is an ignorant repetition of what my former professor of plasma physics told the class, now about 20 years ago.
Fusion is the process of combining two or more atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy. It is important because it is the same process that powers the sun and other stars, and if harnessed, could provide a nearly unlimited source of clean energy.
Some of the main challenges include creating and containing the extreme conditions needed for fusion to occur, such as extremely high temperatures and pressures. Another challenge is finding suitable materials that can withstand these extreme conditions without degrading.
Modern fusion attempts have made significant progress in recent years, with the development of advanced technologies and improved understanding of fusion processes. However, there is still much work to be done before fusion can be achieved in a sustained and controlled manner.
Some of the main practical problems include the high cost and complexity of building and maintaining fusion reactors, as well as the technical challenges of achieving and sustaining fusion reactions. Additionally, there are also social and political challenges in gaining public support and funding for fusion research.
There are ongoing efforts to develop new and improved technologies, materials, and methods for achieving and sustaining fusion reactions. Some potential solutions include using new fusion fuels, such as hydrogen-boron, which could simplify the process and reduce costs. Also, international collaborations and increased funding for fusion research could help address some of the practical challenges.