Deuterium–tritium fusion

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Summary

Deuterium–tritium fusion is a type of nuclear fusion in which one deuterium (2H) nucleus (deuteron) fuses with one tritium (3H) nucleus (triton), giving one helium-4 nucleus, one free neutron, and 17.6 MeV of total energy coming from both the neutron and helium.

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energy measurement unit
Mega-electronvolts are the standard unit used to quantify the 17.6 MeV of energy released per individual D-T fusion event.
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reaction product
A high-energy neutron is released during D-T fusion, carrying 14.1 MeV of energy, which is the primary source of heat in fusion reactor blankets.
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reaction product
Helium-4 is the alpha particle produced as a byproduct of the D-T fusion reaction, carrying 3.5 MeV of the total energy released.
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primary reactant isotope
Tritium is the radioactive isotope of hydrogen that provides the second nucleus necessary for the D-T fusion process.
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primary reactant isotope
Deuterium is the stable heavy isotope of hydrogen required as one of the two fuel components for the D-T fusion reaction.
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major experimental implementation
ITER is a large-scale international project specifically designed to demonstrate the feasibility of sustained D-T fusion power on a commercial scale.
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state of matter for reaction
D-T fusion occurs within a high-temperature plasma state where the nuclei have sufficient kinetic energy to overcome electrostatic repulsion.
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defines ignition requirements
The Lawson criterion specifies the minimum conditions of temperature, density, and confinement time required for a D-T plasma to reach self-sustaining ignition.
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enabling physical mechanism
Quantum tunnelling allows deuterium and tritium nuclei to fuse even when their kinetic energy is lower than the Coulomb barrier height.
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physical obstacle to fusion
The Coulomb barrier represents the electrostatic repulsion between the two positively charged hydrogen nuclei that must be overcome for D-T fusion to occur.
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specific reaction type
Deuterium-tritium fusion is the most efficient and commonly studied specific instance of the broader nuclear fusion process.
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the primary fuel reaction for tokamak reactors
This specific fusion reaction is the most viable for current tokamak designs due to its high cross-section at achievable temperatures.
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tritium supply mechanism
Because tritium is rare and radioactive, D-T fusion reactors require a breeding blanket to produce tritium from lithium using the neutrons released by the reaction.
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primary application method
D-T fusion is the primary fuel cycle utilized in magnetic confinement devices like tokamaks to achieve sustained plasma conditions.
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determines reaction probability
The fusion cross section for D-T is significantly higher at lower temperatures than other fusion reactions, making it the most viable candidate for terrestrial fusion power.
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Most viable fuel cycle for terrestrial reactors
This specific reaction is the primary focus for early fusion power plants due to its higher cross-section at lower temperatures compared to other fuel cycles.
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Facts