What is Nuclear Fusion in Layman's Terms?

Take a moment to look around. Everything you observe, including yourself, is composed of atoms. To distinguish one type of atom from another, you need to focus on the nucleus and count the protons, also referred to as the atomic number. For instance, a hydrogen atom has one proton, a helium atom consists of two, and lithium has three protons.

When you calculate the fusion of one hydrogen nucleus with another, you effectively create a helium nucleus, which contains two protons. That, in essence, encapsulates what nuclear fusion is.

The Fundamentals of Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is not just a theoretical idea; it's a process that powers a well-known celestial body — the sun. Stars like our sun operate as vast nuclear fusion reactors, continuously converting hydrogen into helium and subsequently transforming helium into heavier elements.

This process is significant because nuclear fusion typically releases energy, which fuels further fusion reactions. Essentially, the sun is self-sustaining, emitting energy vital for life on Earth. Fortunately, we have billions of years before the sun's hydrogen supply diminishes, giving us ample time to perfect our coffee orders!

Why Discuss Nuclear Fusion?

Humanity has long recognized that recreating the sun's fusion process on Earth could potentially address our energy challenges. Currently, we are engaged in nuclear fission, where nuclei are split to release energy, predominantly using uranium. Although fission could contribute to a carbon-neutral future, high-profile accidents have tarnished its reputation, and the resulting radioactive waste poses long-term storage challenges.

Conversely, nuclear fusion produces less hazardous waste that decays more rapidly and primarily relies on abundant hydrogen sources. Additionally, like fission, fusion does not emit greenhouse gases. However, the practical application of fusion remains elusive; achieving the necessary conditions of extreme heat and pressure to facilitate fusion is a formidable challenge.

On December 5, 2022, researchers at a government-funded laser facility in California successfully used multiple laser beams to bombard a hydrogen pellet, resulting in the release of more energy than was used to initiate the reaction. While this measurement only accounted for the energy from the lasers and not their operational costs, it does suggest that achieving solar-like fusion on Earth may be within our grasp.

The journey to scale this technology for power generation will be arduous and may take decades. So, what is nuclear fusion? Think of it as a musical fusion, where two hydrogen atoms combine like jazz and rock to produce a powerful energy output!