Fusion: The Energy of the UniverseUnraveling the role of fusion in the universe has taken almost a century since Einstein's proof of the equivalence of energy and matter in 1905. The discovery that fusion reactions are responsible for the building of the light elements in the "Big Bang" and the subsequent development of the heavier elements in the stars and in exploding supernovae is one of the field's most exciting successes. In this engaging book, McCracken and Stott reexamine these discoveries in astrophysics and discuss the possibility that fusion reactions are not only our sun's source of power, but may also be induced for our use on earth. * Details the initial discovery of nuclear fusion, all related research, and today's concern over future energy supply * Examines current attempts to create nuclear fusion here on earth * Enhanced with color illustrations and examples * Provides a non-technical treatment of fusion using straightforward language * Includes technical notes for aspiring physicists |
Contents
Chapter 1 What Is Nuclear Fusion? | 1 |
Chapter 2 Energy from Mass | 7 |
Chapter 3 Fusion in the Sun and Stars | 17 |
Chapter 4 ManMade Fusion | 33 |
Chapter 5 Magnetic Confinement | 47 |
Chapter 6 The Hydrogen Bomb | 61 |
Chapter 7 InertialConfinement Fusion | 69 |
Chapter 8 False Trails | 87 |
Chapter 10 From T3 to ITER | 111 |
Chapter 11 Fusion Power Plants | 129 |
Chapter 12 Why We Need Fusion Energy | 145 |
Epilogue | 155 |
Units | 157 |
Glossary | 161 |
Further Reading | 177 |
181 | |
Chapter 9 Tokamaks | 95 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accelerated alpha particle atomic mass blanket burn capsule carbon Celsius chemical chemistry cold fusion compress and heat core density deuterium deuterium and tritium developed divertor driver Earth electricity electron elements energy confinement experiments explosion field lines Figure fission bomb flux fusion energy fusion fuel fusion power plant fusion reactions fusion research helium helium-3 hohlraum hot plasma hydrogen ignition impurities inertial inertial-confinement fusion instabilities ionized ions ISBN isotopes ITER known layer lithium magnetic confinement magnetic field materials measure million degrees muon National Ignition Facility neodymium neutral beam neutrino neutrons nuclear fusion nuclei operation output physics plasma current plasma temperature poloidal pressure problem produced protons pulse radiation radioactive radius Reactor released Schematic scientific scientists Soviet stars stellarator superconducting supernova surface target TFTR thermonuclear tokamak toroidal field toroidal magnetic field toroidal pinch torus tritium typically University uranium Z-pinch