Thermonuclear Energy
What is Thermonuclear Energy?
Thermonuclear energy is the energy released by nuclear fusion reactions — the combining of light atomic nuclei (such as deuterium and tritium) at extremely high temperatures (tens of millions of Kelvin) to form heavier nuclei, releasing enormous amounts of energy according to E = mc². It is the energy source of stars, including the sun, and is produced on Earth in hydrogen bombs (thermonuclear weapons). Controlled thermonuclear fusion for power generation is the subject of ongoing research in tokamak reactors and inertial confinement fusion devices.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Thermonuclear energy is the energy released by nuclear fusion reactions — the combining of light atomic nuclei (such as deuterium and tritium) at extremely high temperatures (tens of millions of Kelvin) to form heavier nuclei, releasing enormous amounts of energy according to E = mc². It is the energy source of stars, including the sun, and is produced on Earth in hydrogen bombs (thermonuclear weapons). Controlled thermonuclear fusion for power generation is the subject of ongoing research in tokamak reactors and inertial confinement fusion devices.