Having studied "Nuclear and Particle Physics" for two years at school, I developed an outside interest in the development of Nuclear Fusion as a potential power source.
Some facts to consider:
Nuclear Fusion is inherently safe; it cannot experience "meltdown".
Fuels (inputs) are widely available; water (deuterium, tritium) and lithium.
NO greenhouse gasses emitted whatsoever.
NO toxic pollutants formed which cannot be reused in the reaction.
Radioactive reactor a short term problem.
Power would become cheap and (nearly) unlimited - fuels would last for millenia.
However, scientists have been working on Nuclear Fusion for decades. A Fusion reaction can be produced, but it always needs a net input of energy. In other words it needs power just to run - the reaction is not self-sustaining.
Nuclear Fusion basically involves squashing two particles together. (The opposite of a nuclear fission reaction, which breaks atoms apart. Nuclear Fission is currently used in nuclear power plants the world over - and in the A-Bomb) Although energy is eventually released from this reaction, huge amounts of energy need to be put in to 'start it off'. Current methods of doing this are inefficient; therefore the reaction loses energy.
Whilst Nuclear Fusion is a super idea, it seems to be out of our reach. Should research into it continue? Or should the resources be directed elsewhere? What do people think?
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h34r: )
