Inertial confinement

Definition

Inertial confinement is a technique used to achieve nuclear fusion by using high-energy lasers or ion beams to compress and heat a small fuel pellet. The rapid compression creates the high temperatures and pressures necessary for fusion reactions to occur.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) relies on the rapid compression of a fuel target, typically composed of deuterium and tritium.
2. Powerful lasers or ion beams are used to symmetrically compress the fuel pellet, leading to conditions where nuclear fusion can take place.
3. The National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the United States is one of the primary research centers focused on inertial confinement fusion.
4. One of the main challenges in ICF is achieving uniform compression to prevent instabilities that can disrupt the fusion process.
5. ICF has potential medical applications, such as producing isotopes for cancer treatment through neutron activation.

Review Questions

• What types of energy sources are commonly used in inertial confinement fusion?
• Why is symmetric compression important in inertial confinement fusion?
• Name one key research facility focused on advancing inertial confinement fusion technology.

Related terms

Deuterium:

A stable isotope of hydrogen with one proton and one neutron, often used as fuel in nuclear fusion reactions.

Tritium:

A radioactive isotope of hydrogen with one proton and two neutrons, commonly used alongside deuterium in fusion reactions.

National Ignition Facility (NIF): A U.S.-based research center dedicated to achieving nuclear fusion through inertial confinement methods using powerful lasers.