Nuclear Fusion

As in the case of nuclear fission, energy is released during nuclear fusion as well. However, this process, where hydrogen isotopes are combined, is not yet manageable.

Since the electron shells prevent the light nuclei from getting too close to each other, no fusion takes place. If the electron shells are destroyed (the atoms are ionised) due to extremely high temperatures (some 10 million °Celsius), the matter is put into the plasma state. Now nuclear fusion is possible. To reach those temperatures, an atom bomb is required.

During the reaction, the by-products (He 4 and He 5 nuclei, respectively) are not generated first, but the end products.

However, the DT** fusion is a hundred times more likely than the DD* fusion, and the energy yield is four times bigger.

In contrast to nuclear fission, the fusion product (helium) is not radioactive. The only radioactivity that might occur during fusion is induced by nascent neutrons.

* Deuterium + deuterium fusion

** Deuterium + tritium fusion