Atommagfúzióhoz

Atommagfúzióhoz, often translated as nuclear fusion, is a process where two or more atomic nuclei collide at very high speeds and combine to form a single, heavier nucleus. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy, far exceeding that released by chemical reactions or nuclear fission. It is the same process that powers stars, including our Sun.

For fusion to occur, the positively charged nuclei must overcome their mutual electrostatic repulsion. This requires extremely high temperatures, on the order of tens of millions of degrees Celsius, and immense pressure. At these conditions, matter exists as a plasma, a state where electrons are stripped from atoms, leaving a mixture of free electrons and nuclei.

The primary fuel for fusion in stars is hydrogen, which fuses into helium. On Earth, scientists are primarily researching the fusion of two isotopes of hydrogen: deuterium and tritium. Deuterium is relatively abundant in seawater, while tritium can be produced from lithium.

Achieving controlled nuclear fusion on Earth has been a long-standing scientific challenge. The immense temperatures and pressures needed are difficult to sustain and contain. Various methods are being explored, including magnetic confinement, where powerful magnetic fields are used to hold the plasma, and inertial confinement, which uses lasers to rapidly heat and compress a fuel pellet. The potential benefits of fusion energy are significant, including a nearly inexhaustible and clean energy source with no long-lived radioactive waste.