Fusion Processes

Meaning of nuclear fusion

In the fusion processes, there is bonding or fusing of two light atoms to form a heavier one. The new atom which is created is less in mass than the old atom, and the missing mass is given off as energy. Einstein explained the concept by his famous equation:

E = mc2

It is something that usually happens with other stars and the sun and there is an involvement of combining two atomic nuclei to create one larger one. A huge amount of energy is released by these reactions but during nuclear fusion, the energy field is very intense and high and the waste products are very less.

Types of fusion reactions

Fusion reactions are of different types, but mostly there are two types, which are isotopes of hydrogen that are known as deuterium and another is tritium. Some common fusion reactions are:

Chain of proton-proton

This type of fusion reaction is the one that takes place in the Sun or any other star in the Universe. When there is a collision of a proton pair (two pairs of hydrogen atoms) formation of two atoms of deuterium occurs. For the formation of helium-3, each deuterium combines again with a proton (hydrogen), which again combines and eventually results in the formation of helium-4.

Reactions of deuterium-deuterium

Deuterium atoms in pairs are combined to form neutrons and helium-3.

Tritium-Deuterium reactions

One atom from both tritium and deuterium combined to form neutron and helium-4. The energy released here is always in the form of high energy.

Difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion

Energy usually comes from physical and chemical processes. In history, people used to burn carbon-based materials like coal and wood, or they used the harnessing process for generating power from water, sun, and wind.

Similarly, for producing a massive amount of energy fission and fusion, two common physical processes are being used. Massive amounts of energy are produced by the physical process of fission and fusion from atoms. Millions of times energy has been yielded from different sources through the process of nuclear reactions.

Fission

When any neutron breaks into the large atom, fission occurs. If it is further broken into other two smaller atoms, then it is known as the product of fission. During this process, some other neutrons are released, which turns into a chain reaction. A large amount of energy is released during the splitting of atoms.

In fission reactions, plutonium and uranium are commonly used in nuclear power reactors as it is very easy to control and initiate. The energy released during the process of fission in reactors is used to heat water into steam. The generated steam is further used to spin a turbine to further produce carbon-free electricity.

Fusion

In the process of fusion, two atoms fuse together, which results in the formation of new heavier atoms. For example: When one helium atom is formed by fusing two hydrogen atoms. This process is similar to the process of generating huge energy from the sun, many times larger than fission. Highly radioactive fission products are not produced out of this process.

Several scientists have been studying the process of fusion reactions, but they found it very difficult to sustain it for longer hours due to the high amount of temperature and pressure needed to combine the nuclei together.

Applications of nuclear fusion

Two approaches are used for the safe application of nuclear fusion: magnetic containment and inertial containment. In magnetic containment, atoms are heated at a very high temperature. For example, a mixture of hydrogen isotopes is heated to a high temperature. At this temperature, the mixture usually changes its nature.

In this process, atoms lose electrons, and positively charged nuclei and electrons form in the mixture, which is known as plasma. That formed plasma already contains a magnetic field. From the spinning hot mass of plasma, anyone can design a field and create any shape. The doughnut-shaped machine of Russia (tokamak) is the best-suited example of it.

Through the process of the tokamak, powerful electromagnetic fields are created that can hold a hot plasma in place. Then hydrogen isotopes have been heated to a very high temperature, and nuclear fusion begins to occur.

Conclusion

Finally, it can be concluded that in fission reactions, plutonium and uranium are commonly used in nuclear power reactors as it is very easy to control and initiate.

The energy released during the process of fission in reactors is used to heat water into steam. The generated steam is further used to spin a turbine to further produce carbon-free electricity.

In the process of fusion, two atoms break together, which results in the formation of new heavier atoms. For example: When one helium atom is formed by fusing two hydrogen atoms. This process is similar to the process of generating huge energy from the sun, many times larger than fission.

Highly radioactive fission products are not produced out of this process. Both the processes work differently, and the product is also different.