fuusiovoimaan

Fuusiovoima refers to the generation of energy through nuclear fusion. This process mimics the way stars, like our sun, produce light and heat by fusing atomic nuclei together. In fusion reactors, lighter atomic nuclei, typically isotopes of hydrogen such as deuterium and tritium, are heated to extremely high temperatures and pressures. Under these conditions, the nuclei overcome their natural electrostatic repulsion and merge to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a significant amount of energy in the process. This released energy can then be harnessed to produce electricity.

The primary advantage of fusion power is its potential for a virtually inexhaustible fuel supply, as deuterium can be extracted from water and tritium can be bred from lithium. Furthermore, fusion reactions produce very little long-lived radioactive waste compared to nuclear fission, and the process is inherently safer as it cannot lead to a runaway chain reaction. However, achieving and sustaining the extreme conditions necessary for fusion, particularly maintaining plasma stability, presents immense technological challenges. Research and development in fuusiovoima is ongoing globally, with major projects like ITER aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion as a sustainable energy source.