How do fission and fusion reactions compare?
In fission, energy is gained energy by splitting apart heavy atoms (Uranium) and use this excess energy to boil water to drive a steam generator, thus producing electricity. Experiments such as JET are still researching how to use the energy gained from nuclear fusion reactions – where light Hydrogen-like nuclei are fused together, producing an excess of energy. This is reproducing what is happening in the Sun. Here, a hot gas (or plasma) of Hydrogen-like nuclei is formed, held in place using powerful magnetic fields, and heated until fusion starts to occur – indeed, JET, a European experiment based here at Culham, has achieved temperatures where fusion products have been observed. It is hoped that fusion powerplants (similar but larger than JET) will be producing electricity in 40 years or so.
