What is a “lithium blanket” and how does it work?What happens to the neutrons after they e “absorbed” by the lithium blanket?
The Lithium blanket is a layer of Lithium that will surround the burning plasma in a potential fusion powerplant. It will absorb the energy from the fusion neutrons produced in the plasma, boiling water via a heat exchanger, which will be used to drive a steam turbine and produce electricity. The Lithium will also react with the neutron to produce Tritium (a heavy form of Hydrogen) which will be used as a fuel for the plasma, along with Deuterium (another heavy form of Hydrogen).
