Deuterium–tritium fusion (sometimes abbreviated D+T) is a type of nuclear fusion in which one deuteriumnucleus fuses with one tritium nucleus, giving one helium nucleus, one free neutron, and 17.6 MeV of energy. It is the best known fusion reaction for fusion devices.
The deuterium–tritium fusion reaction
Tritium, one of the reactants required for this type of fusion, is radioactive. In fusion reactors, a 'breeding blanket' made of lithium is placed on the walls of the reactor, as lithium, when exposed to energetic neutrons, will produce tritium.
In deuterium–tritium fusion, one deuteriumnucleus fuses with one tritium nucleus, yielding one helium nucleus, a free neutron, and 17.6 MeV, which is derived from approximately 0.02 AMUs.[1] The amount of energy obtained is described by the mass-energy relation: . 80% of the energy (14.1 MeV) becomes kinetic energy of the neutron traveling at 1⁄6 the speed of light.
Reactant sourcingEdit
About 1 in every 5,000 hydrogen atoms in seawater is deuterium, making it easy to acquire.[1][2]
Tritium, however, is a radioactive isotope, and difficult to source naturally. This can be circumvented by exposing the more readily available lithium to energetic neutrons, which produces tritium nuclei.[1][2] In addition, the deuterium–tritium reaction itself emits a free neutron, which can be used to bombard lithium.[3] A 'breeding blanket', which consists of lithium, is often placed along the walls of fusion reactors such that free neutrons created during deuterium–tritium fusion react with it to produce more tritium.[4][5] This process is called tritium breeding.
Use in fusion reactorsEdit
Deuterium–tritium fusion is planned to be used in ITER,[4] as well as many other proposed fusion reactors. It provides many advantages over other types of fusion, as it has a relatively low minimum temperature of 100 million degrees C.[6]
deuterium, tritium, fusion, sometimes, abbreviated, type, nuclear, fusion, which, deuterium, nucleus, fuses, with, tritium, nucleus, giving, helium, nucleus, free, neutron, energy, best, known, fusion, reaction, fusion, devices, deuterium, tritium, fusion, rea. Deuterium tritium fusion sometimes abbreviated D T is a type of nuclear fusion in which one deuterium nucleus fuses with one tritium nucleus giving one helium nucleus one free neutron and 17 6 MeV of energy It is the best known fusion reaction for fusion devices The deuterium tritium fusion reactionTritium one of the reactants required for this type of fusion is radioactive In fusion reactors a breeding blanket made of lithium is placed on the walls of the reactor as lithium when exposed to energetic neutrons will produce tritium Contents 1 Concept 2 Reactant sourcing 3 Use in fusion reactors 4 See also 5 ReferencesConcept EditIn deuterium tritium fusion one deuterium nucleus fuses with one tritium nucleus yielding one helium nucleus a free neutron and 17 6 MeV which is derived from approximately 0 02 AMUs 1 The amount of energy obtained is described by the mass energy relation E m c 2 displaystyle E mc 2 nbsp 80 of the energy 14 1 MeV becomes kinetic energy of the neutron traveling at 1 6 the speed of light Reactant sourcing EditAbout 1 in every 5 000 hydrogen atoms in seawater is deuterium making it easy to acquire 1 2 Tritium however is a radioactive isotope and difficult to source naturally This can be circumvented by exposing the more readily available lithium to energetic neutrons which produces tritium nuclei 1 2 In addition the deuterium tritium reaction itself emits a free neutron which can be used to bombard lithium 3 A breeding blanket which consists of lithium is often placed along the walls of fusion reactors such that free neutrons created during deuterium tritium fusion react with it to produce more tritium 4 5 This process is called tritium breeding Use in fusion reactors EditDeuterium tritium fusion is planned to be used in ITER 4 as well as many other proposed fusion reactors It provides many advantages over other types of fusion as it has a relatively low minimum temperature of 100 million degrees C 6 See also EditFusion power Deuterium tritium Deuterium fusionReferences Edit a b c Nuclear Fusion Georgia State University Retrieved January 29 2021 a b Lanctot Matthew DOE Explains deuterium tritium Fusion Reactor Fuel Department of Energy Retrieved April 12 2021 Cowley Steve Introduction to Fusion Part I PDF SULI Retrieved January 30 2021 a b Fueling the Fusion Reaction ITER Retrieved February 12 2021 Tritium a challenging fuel for fusion EUROfusion November 8 2017 Retrieved February 16 2021 Schneider Ursula August 1 2001 Fusion Energy of the Future International Atomic Energy Agency Retrieved February 13 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Deuterium tritium fusion amp oldid 1180437591, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
