Nuclear Fusion
The process of combining light atomic nuclei (typically hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium) to form heavier nuclei, releasing enormous energy. Fusion powers the sun but has not yet been achieved at commercial scale on Earth.
Why It Matters
Fusion promises virtually unlimited clean energy with minimal waste, but commercial fusion power plants are likely 15-25+ years away. Understanding the distinction between fission (proven, operating) and fusion (experimental) prevents confusion.
Related Topics
Related Terms
Nuclear Fission
The process of splitting a heavy atomic nucleus (such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239) into two lighter nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy. This is the reaction that powers all current nuclear power plants.
Tokamak
A donut-shaped (toroidal) device that uses powerful magnetic fields to confine hot plasma for nuclear fusion. The tokamak is the most developed approach to magnetic confinement fusion, used by ITER and SPARC.
Plasma
The fourth state of matter — a superheated gas where atoms are stripped of their electrons. In fusion reactors, hydrogen isotopes are heated to 100+ million degrees Celsius, forming a plasma that enables fusion reactions.