Welcome to MAE 170

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Lecture 2
ENERGY FROM FUSION
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WHAT IS FUSION?

• Fusion occurs when forms of the lightest atom
  (hydrogen) are combined under
• great pressure and temperature to form a
  heavier atom
• Fusion is a the power source of the sun and
  stars
• Large quantities of energy released by the
  sun and stars is the
• conversion of matter into energy

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WHY FUSION?

• To create new energy source
• Furthering our understanding of the matter
• Fusion will complement renewable energy
  sources
• No contribution to global warming or other
  forms of air pollutions

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WHAT IS ALL THIS TALK ABOUT PLASMA?

• Plasma is an ionized gas consisting of
  positive and negative particles
• 99 of all the visible matter in the
  universe is plasma
• Plasma has a large variety of applications

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WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR THERMONUCLEAR FUSION?

• Temperature
• - fuel must be heated to temperatures at which
  the electrons and nuclei
• separate (10,000 0C)
• - then to temperature (100 million oC) to
  overcome repulsive force
• Confinement
• - must be confined for a sufficient period of
  time to ensure that the particles fuse
• Density
• - must attain high density for self sustaining
  fusion

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MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT FUSION
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THE PATH OF PROGRESS IN MAGNETIC FUSION
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INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION
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ACHIEVING FUSION CONDITIONS ON EARTH
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ENERGY TOMORROW
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NEXT WEEK