Controlled Nuclear Fusion
Book
·
OSTI ID:1135810
The objective of controlled nuclear fusion research is to develop a major economic source of energy that should be readily available to all mankind. This development is most likely to occur first by way of the reaction between deuterium and tritium nuclei. The basic fuel materials will then be deuterium and lithium; the tritium will be obtained by the interaction of neutrons with the latter element. The quantity of deuterium in the oceans and other water bodies is virtually inexhaustible and the lithium that can be extracted from heavy brines and minerals (e.g., pegmatites) should be adequate for several hundred years. If it should ultimately prove necessary, the lithium in seawater could be extracted for an acceptable price. However, before terrestrial sources of lithium are exhausted, the conditions for fusion of deuterium nuclei alone (or of deuterium and helium-3) should be achieved. In this event, lithium will no longer be required.
- Research Organization:
- US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- OSTI ID:
- 1135810
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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