What is Fusion Energy?
The sun, which is essential for life on earth, derives its power from fusion Fusion is a process by which two light nuclei join together (fuse) to form a heavier nucleus, and in doing so release considerable energy. Achieving this requires high temperatures such as those that drive the fusion processes which power the sun and stars. The aim of fusion research and development is to create conditions on earth which are sufficient to generate many fusion reactions which may be harnessed to produce large amounts of thermal and/or electrical power. As there are no long-lived hazardus by-products and a plentiful supply of almost universally accessible fuel, fusion power has the potential to produce virtually limitless amounts of power in an environmentally friendly and economically viable way.
Fusion energy is the extraction of energy from bonds between particles in the nuclei of atoms by fusing those nuclei together. To gain the most energy, light elements and isotopes like hydrogen, deuterium, tritium, and helium must be used, though every element with an atomic number lower than iron can produce net energy when fused. Fusion is in contrast to fission, the process whereby energy is generated by breaking apart heavy nuclei like uranium or plutonium. Both are considered to be nuclear energy, but fission is easier and better developed. All present-day nuclear power plants operate based on fission energy, but many scientists are hopeful that a power plant based on fusion energy will be developed before 2050. There are nuclear bombs based on both fission energy and fusion energy. Conventional A-bombs are based on fission, while H-bombs, or hydrogen bombs, are based on fusion. Fusion more efficiently converts matter into energy, producing more heat and temperature when the proce
