Magfúziók

Magfúziók, often referred to as nuclear fusion, is a process where two or more atomic nuclei collide at very high speeds and fuse together to form a single, heavier nucleus. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy, far exceeding that of nuclear fission. The primary fuel for fusion in stars, like our Sun, is hydrogen, which fuses into helium. On Earth, researchers are primarily focused on fusing isotopes of hydrogen, namely deuterium and tritium.

The conditions required for fusion are extreme: temperatures in the tens of millions of degrees Celsius and immense pressure. These conditions are necessary to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged nuclei, allowing them to get close enough for the strong nuclear force to bind them. Scientists are exploring various methods to achieve and sustain these conditions, with the two leading approaches being magnetic confinement fusion and inertial confinement fusion. Magnetic confinement uses powerful magnetic fields to contain the superheated plasma, while inertial confinement uses lasers or particle beams to compress and heat a fuel pellet.

The potential benefits of controlled nuclear fusion are significant. It promises a virtually inexhaustible and clean energy source, as the primary fuels are abundant, and the process produces very little long-lived radioactive waste compared to nuclear fission. However, achieving practical and economically viable fusion power remains a major scientific and engineering challenge, with ongoing research and development efforts worldwide.