• What is Inertial Electrostatic Fusion?

• Fusion is a nuclear, so isn't it dangerous?

• So if fusion is so great, why has no one built a fusion power reactor?

• If someone succeeded in making a fusion reactor that was exothermic, how would it generate power?

• What if it can't be done?

What is Inertial Electrostatic Fusion?
In atomic physics, fusion is the process that takes place when two nuclei of light elements fuse and form a new nucleus of a heavier element. Fusion between some of the lighter elements is an exothermic process, in other words a reaction that gives out more energy, than is initially required to make the reaction take place. In fact some of the Fusion reactions produce thousands of times more output energy than the initial input, which is why Fusion is heralded as a possible source of clean green energy. There are a number of different ways to initiate the fusion process, and the method that we believe has the biggest chance, is Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion (IEC). In IEC, a deep potential energy well is created using a strong electrostatic field, into which positively charged ions of a suitable gas is dropped, the ions fall and gain fusion capable velocities before colliding and undergoing fusion.

Fusion is a nuclear, so isn't it dangerous?
Yes, fusion reactions do emit radiation, but unlike the fission reaction, which is the reaction that powers todays nuclear power stations, fusion does not produce large amounts of long lived radio active waste. Fusion reactors emit mainly neutrons, which have a life time of only 13 minutes, and are easily blocked by a suitable shield.

So if fusion is so great, why has no one built a fusion power reactor?
Allthough we have known for the past 70 years, that the fusion reaction is exothermic, and that these are the reactions that power the sun, no one on earth has been able to develop an exothermic reactor. So far, all man made fusion has required far more energy input than that gained from the output.

If someone succeeded in making a fusion reactor that was exothermic, how would it generate power?
Fusion reactors would generate power in much the same way as todays fission reactors, by generating heat, which in turn is converted to kinetic energy and then to electricity via a suitable heat exchanger. With the exception of a special fusion reaction, referred to as the proton + Boron-11 reaction, where there is a possibility of extracting electricity directly in the core of the reactor.

What if it can't be done?
Fusion can be done, in fact endothermic fusion is done every day by scientists around the world, it is just not energy producing. Fortunately there are some very important uses for neutrons, which is the by product of most fusion reactions. Neutrons are used in mining and well logging, to identify minerals in the rock, and neutrons are used to manufacture radio active isotopes, some of which are used in cancer treatment and for bone scanns. A powerful source of neutrons can even be used to break down the long lived radio active waste that is accumulating around the world. So a powerful fusion reactor can be useful even it uses more energy than it produces.