From the blog of Law Professor Ann Althouse we have this CNN clip on nuclear fusion experiments.
I am doing this just to show that (1) I can link to a link to CNN and (2) because I think nuclear fusion will be very interesting if the folks at Lawrence Livermore can actually create a nuclear fusion event some time this year. Up until now, here on earth, we have done nuclear fusion only with a nuclear reaction driving it, or so I understand.
Regards — Cliff
Self sustaining fusion would be an incredible energy leap forward. And at the same time, the stuff that they are doing and want to do with the Hadron Collider is awesome in its own domain.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder though, if one can create a self-sustaining fusion reaction, how does one contain it? That is, how does one keep it from consuming everything in its vicinity as a means for growth?
Of course, Teller et al had some of the same concerns when they tested the first hydrogen weapon. Nobody was really all that certain of the outcome.
On the other hand, if the LL fusion "goes rogue" I rather doubt we would much care.
Its not about the finish....its all about the race.
The good news is that it will be self sustaining to the extent it is constantly fed with the right reactants. As you move up the periodic chart from H, it starts to get harder and harder to sustain fusion. Even the sun starts having trouble not very far in. By the time you get to Iron, it is pretty much done.
ReplyDeleteAs to the original post, it is not the first fusion here on earth. We do fusion all the time. However, short of using a fission trigger, it will be the first fusion that has resulted in a net positive energy production.