Abstract
Fusion is the energy that powers the stars, including our own Sun. Deep in the mass of the stars common hydrogen is converted first to deuterium. Two nuclei of deuterium combine to form helium, while releasing a large amount of energy. Since the fusion reactions were first discovered, it was realized by the scientific community that the controlled harnessing of fusion may provide enough energy to the human society for millions of years. Fusion energy may solve the “energy problem” for humanity. Fusion energy is a panacea whose realization may not be too far in the future. Multinational research and development efforts have produced plasma confining methods, which may lead to continuous and controlled fusion during the twenty-first century. While several technological breakthroughs are still needed, enough progress has been made to elucidate the basic mechanisms of the fusion reactions and to point fusion research to the right direction. Because of fusion and its great promise, the time when the energy of the stars will be harnessed on Earth and when the produced power will be abundant and inexpensive may not be too far in the future.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
Plasma is considered the fourth state of matter, in addition to solid, liquid and gas. In the state of plasma the electrons acquire high energies and break free from the nuclei. Thus, the plasma state resembles a gas composed of nuclei and free electrons.
- 2.
The conductivity of plasma is oftentimes referred to as the Spitzer conductivity, in honor of the late Professor Lyman Spitzer of Princeton.
- 3.
A muon is an unstable subatomic particle, about 200 times heavier than the electron.
References
Bennet DJ (1972) The elements of nuclear power. Longmans, London
McCracken G, Stott P (2005) Fusion—the Energy of the Universe. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
(Stathis) Michaelides, E.E. (2012). Fusion Energy. In: Alternative Energy Sources. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20951-2_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20951-2_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-20950-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-20951-2
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)