User:Jay0598/sandbox

Common forms of Nuclear Fusion

Fusion starts with merging of two hydrogen atoms, but they keep fussing till Iron( Fe)

Nuclear fusion is the process in which the two nuclei fuse into one under high pressure and temperature. The same reaction generates energy is all the stars. Currently Nuclear fusion has only been used in uncontrolled ways in Hydrogen bombs, but a lot research is being conducted to sustain the reaction in controlled ways, so it can be used as a power source. This should not be confused with nuclear fission which is splitting of a nuclei. Nuclear fusion is more desirable since it does not generate any radioactive waste. Nuclear fusion is the combination of any two nuclei and is not just limited to hydrogen, but fusion of any nuclei higher than iron is not possible because the elements formed are unstable and quickly decay. The most common form of fusion is between Hydrogen and its isotopes. It also produces more energy from same mass of fuel. There are several types of nuclear fusion reactions which are distinguished by the isotopes of hydrogen involved in the reaction. The three common forms are:

1. Proton-proton chain reactions
2. Deuterium-deuterium reactions
3. Deuterium-tritium reactions

Proton-Proton chain reactions

Proron-Proton chain reaction

These reactions are the main source of energy in Main sequence stars which includes the sun. In Proton–proton chain reaction four protons are combined under high temperature and pressure to form a helium nucleus. This results in 0.7% of original mass being converted to mostly heat energy.

The chemical reaction is as follows:

First, 2 protons combine to form deuterium with emission of Positron and a Neutrino

${\ce {^1H + ^1H -> ^2H +e^+ + \nu}}$

The deuterium then absorbs another proton and forms Helium-3

${\ce {^2H + ^1H -> ^3He + \gamma}}$

After this eventually two Helium-3 nuclei combine to form one Helium-4 and two protons

${\ce {^3He + ^3He -> ^4He + ^1H + ^1H}}$

This reaction continues until there are no more protons left.

Deuterium-Deuterium reactions

Deuterium-Deuterium reaction is essentially the second stage of proton- proton chain reaction described above. In this reaction, two deuterium nuclei combine to form a Helium-3 nucleus.

${\ce {^2_1H + ^2_1H -> ^3_2He + ^1_0n + 3.27 Mev}}$

Then the Helium-3 nucleus and one deuterium combine to form a Helium-4 nucleus and a proton.

${\ce {^2_1H + ^3_2He -> ^4_2He + ^1_1H + 18.3 Mev}}$

Deuterium-Tritium reactions

Deuterium-tritium chain reaction

This reaction shows most promise for the fusion reactors. In this reaction, one Deuterium and one Tritium nucleus combine to form a Helium-4 nucleus and one neutron while emitting 17.59 MeV of energy.

${\ce {^2_1H + ^2_1H -> ^4_2He + ^1_0n + 17.59 Mev}}$