ydinpakautumaan

Ydinpakautumaan is a Finnish term that translates to "nuclear fusion" in English. It refers to the process by which two or more atomic nuclei combine to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles (neutrons or protons). The difference in mass between the reactants and the products is converted into energy in the form of photons (light) and kinetic energy of the particles. This is the process that powers stars, including our Sun.

In nuclear fusion, the strong nuclear force, which binds protons and neutrons together, is responsible for overcoming the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged nuclei. This requires extremely high temperatures and pressures, typically found in the cores of stars or in controlled fusion experiments. The most common fusion reaction involves isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium, which fuse to form helium, a neutron, and a large amount of energy.

Scientists are actively researching controlled nuclear fusion as a potential source of clean and virtually limitless energy. The goal is to replicate the conditions found in stars on Earth in a controlled environment. While significant progress has been made, achieving sustained and economically viable fusion power remains a complex scientific and engineering challenge. The primary obstacles include maintaining the necessary high temperatures and pressures for a sufficient duration, and containing the superheated plasma.