Question
nuclear fusion equation
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy in the process. One of the most common fusion reactions occurs in stars, including our Sun, and involves isotopes of hydrogen. The fusion of deuterium (\(^2H\)) and tritium (\(^3H\)) can be represented by the following equation:
\[
^2H + ^3H \rightarrow ^4He + n + 17.6 \text{ MeV}
\]
In this reaction, deuterium (\(^2H\)) and tritium (\(^3H\)) combine to form helium-4 (\(^4He\)), a neutron (\(n\)), and release energy roughly equivalent to 17.6 million electron volts (MeV).
Another common fusion reaction that occurs in stars (and can also occur in experimental fusion reactors) is the fusion of two protons, which ultimately leads to the formation of helium:
\[
4 \, ^1H \rightarrow \, ^4He + 2e^+ + 2\nu_e + \text{energy}
\]
In this reaction, four protons (\(^1H\)) fuse to form one helium-4 nucleus (\(^4He\)), two positrons (\(e^+\)), two neutrinos (\(\nu_e\)), and a significant amount of energy.
These equations demonstrate some of the principal processes involved in nuclear fusion, a field of interest for both astrophysics and potential energy generation on Earth.
\[
^2H + ^3H \rightarrow ^4He + n + 17.6 \text{ MeV}
\]
In this reaction, deuterium (\(^2H\)) and tritium (\(^3H\)) combine to form helium-4 (\(^4He\)), a neutron (\(n\)), and release energy roughly equivalent to 17.6 million electron volts (MeV).
Another common fusion reaction that occurs in stars (and can also occur in experimental fusion reactors) is the fusion of two protons, which ultimately leads to the formation of helium:
\[
4 \, ^1H \rightarrow \, ^4He + 2e^+ + 2\nu_e + \text{energy}
\]
In this reaction, four protons (\(^1H\)) fuse to form one helium-4 nucleus (\(^4He\)), two positrons (\(e^+\)), two neutrinos (\(\nu_e\)), and a significant amount of energy.
These equations demonstrate some of the principal processes involved in nuclear fusion, a field of interest for both astrophysics and potential energy generation on Earth.