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What is nuclear fusion?

In nuclear physics, fusion is a nuclear reaction in which two or more
atomic nuclei come very close and then collide at a high speed and join
to form a new nucleus.

When nuclei combine, some of the mass is converted into

energy in accordance with the formula = ! .
o

In other words, lightweight elements combine to

form heavier elements, giving off energy.

In the core of the Sun, fusion takes place at temperatures from 10-15
million degrees celcius (27 million farenheit).

High temperatures cause all gases to become plasma

(the fourth state of matter).

At this temperature
hydrogen atoms get
compressed into its
isotopes (deuterium
& tritium) and fuse
together creating
helium and releasing
energy.

What is Plasma?
Plasma can be described as electrically-charged gas in which
the negatively charged electrons in atoms are completely separated
from the positively charged atomic nuclei (or ions).

Plasma is rarely found on earth and it is estimated that

more than 99% of the universe exists as plasma.

You dont see plasma on Earth because its too cold for
most matter to reach that state.

Lightening is an example of naturally occurring plasma

on Earth.

Nuclear fusion is a major area of plasma physics. Current research is

concerned with harnessing this reaction as a source of large-scale
sustainable energy.

Replicating this Process

Uncontrolled nuclear
fusion has been achieved,
with the infamous
hydrogen bomb (H-bomb).

Controlled, self-sustaining
nuclear fusion has not.

Problem
1) The first requirement is extremely high temperatures (150 -200
million degrees Celsius).
2) No material can withstand this temperature.

Solution

Researchers who are working to reproduce nuclear fusion are

mainly focusing on magnetic confinement.

This involves using intense magnetic fields to contain and

control the very hot plasma in an annular space.

Scientists have built devices able to produce temperatures ten

times higher than those in the Sun.

To reach these temperatures there must first be powerful

heating, keeping the hot fuel particles away from the walls of the
container to minimize thermal losses.
This is achieved by
creating a magnetic cage
made by strong magnetic
fields that prevent the
particles from escaping.
For energy production
this plasma has to be
confined for a sufficiently
long period for fusion to
occur.

Producing Energy from Fusion

Put simply, the process of producing energy from nuclear fusion
consists of the following five steps:
1. Plasma is placed inside a vacuum vessel
a. The vessel is a sealed stainless steel container that
acts as a first safety containment barrier.
b. The plasma is then ionized to change the number of
ions and heated by a high-intensity electrical
current.
c. High-energy deuterium particles are shot into the
plasma regularly.
2. High-energy deuterium particles are shot into the plasma
regularly.
a. Along with high-frequency electromagnetic waves
and production of high-energy helium nuclei, this
maintains the extremely high temperature required
for a fusion reaction.
3. Electrical currents circulate in the plasma and in coils
outside the vacuum vessel
a. Creating the intense magnetic field 50,000 times
stronger than the Earths required to confine the
plasma.
4. Fusion releases neutrons to supply energy that is then
captured.
a. The neutrons are unaffected by the magnetic field
because their electrical charge is neutral, so they
escape outside the confinement vessel and bounce
off the walls of the reactor, heating it until it is
white-hot.
5. A heat transfer fluid recovers the heat on the outside and
transfers it to a secondary circuit. As in nuclear fission
power plants, this circuit generates steam used to produce
electricity.
7

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is an American aerospace, defense, security,

and advanced technologies company with worldwide interests.

Skunk Works

Skunk Works is an official alias

for Lockheed Martin's Advanced
Development Programs.

Skunk Works is responsible for

numerous famous aircraft
designs including:
o SR-71 Blackbird
o Martin F-22 Raptor

Most recently
o The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Cost: 104 million dollars (without engine)
Pratt & Whitney Two-Spool Afterburning
Turbofan Engine Cost: 32.49 million

Lockheed Martin
Compact Fusion
Reactor
A reactor small enough to fit on a truck
could provide enough power for a small
city of up to 100,000 people

Building on more than 60 years of fusion research, the

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works approach to compact fusion is a
high beta concept. (Beta meaning the ratio of the plasma
pressure to magnetic pressure not the second phase of sampling
a product by an intended audience).
o

This concept uses a high fraction of the magnetic field

pressure so the devices can be 10 times smaller than
previous concepts.

This gives the ability to replace other fusion reactor concepts

that need a large building to be housed in with one that can fit
on the back of a truck.