Hyper, new fusion project

2008/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Fisika

The European Commission has launched a new High Power Laser Energy Research fusion project.

The fusion reaction occurs by attaching two isotopes --deuterium and tritio- of hydrogen, releasing the helium atom, a neutron and an enormous amount of energy. This reaction requires heating the fuel at high temperature. At room temperature, matter expands when heated and, as atoms separate, decreases the likelihood of joining together. To unify these atoms it is necessary to store the fuel in a small space.

The Hyper project will use several lasers to compress the fuel formed by deuterium and tritium. In this way, the atoms of the fuel join together and increase the probability of reaction between them. This fuel is then subjected to the action of a high-power laser to increase fuel temperature and initiate a fusion reaction.