Title: The ultimate energy source: fusion

Authors: E. Salpietro, A. Boschi, M. Sironi

Addresses: The NET Team, c/o Max-Planck-Institut fuer Plasma Physik, Boltsmannstr. 2, 8046 Garching bei Muenchen, Germany. ' Italian Committee for Nuclear Energy and Alternative Energy Sources (ENEA), DISP, Roma-EUR, Italy. ' The NET Team, c/o Max-Planck-Institut fuer Plasma Physik, Boltsmannstr. 2, 8046 Garching bei Muenchen, Germany

Abstract: Fusion is the source of energy of the sun and stars. It is the only nuclear reaction that occurs spontaneously in nature. Fusion power has many advantages: it provides a vast source of energy whose fuels are plentiful and widely available, the reaction to produce this energy is intrinsically safe (as any malfunction would stop the process immediately), and the reaction products are not radioactive. The most impressive results so far in controlled thermonuclear fusion research have been obtained with the Tokamak (magnetic confinement) experimental results, producing ten per cent of the energy needed for |ignition|, that is the milestone to demonstrate the scientific feasibility of fusion. The development of fusion power is one of the most challenging tasks for mankind, and will lead to a source of energy which will last for ever.

Keywords: energy economics; environmental pollution; fission; fuels; fusion; nuclear energy; radioactive emissions; safety; nuclear power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1991.063689

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1991 Vol.3 No.4, pp.210-216

Published online: 18 Jul 2014 *

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