So...what is nuclear fusion?
Simply put, nuclear fusion is when two elementary particles collide and combine to make a new particle.
The fused particle, however, is unstable, and quickly decays into a 'hot' neutron and a helium nucleus - an "alpha" particle and energy.
<- On the left is a picture of Tritium Nucleus (a form of hydrogen) colliding with Deuterium Nucleus (also a form of hydrogen) to combine and form a new particle.
History of nuclear fusion
· Discovered accidentally by French physicist Henri Becquerel in 1896
· Found that photographic plates stored in the dark near uranium were blackened like X-ray plates
Some interesting facts about nuclear fusion
· Usually accompanied by the release of energy (depending on the masses of the nuclei involved)
· Iron and nickel nuclei are the most stable nuclei
· Fusion of two nuclei lighter than iron or nickel releases energy
· Fusion of nuclei heavier than iron or nickel absorbs energy
· Nuclear fusion (light) releases the energy that causes stars to shine and hydrogen bombs to explode
· Nuclear fusion (heavy) occurs in the extremely high-energy conditions
· New natural elements are created by nuclear fusion in stars and supernovae
Another form of nuclear fusion
· Cold fusion
o A hypothetical form of nuclear fusion
o Proposed nuclear fusion process of unknown mechanism offered to explain a group of disputed experimental results
o Termed "Low Energy Nuclear Reaction" (LENR) or “Chemically Assisted Nuclear Reaction” (CANR)
How is nuclear fusion used
· Hydrogen bomb (thermonuclear bomb) - a brief, controlled thermonuclear fusion reaction
· Atomic bomb provide heat to start fusion reaction = very high temperature
· Hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium
· During which it release huge amounts of energy = explosion
· Currently, only used for nuclear weapons
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