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They are mentioning doing a fusion reactor but there are no details. Lower down the page they mention that the startup will be actually using a fission-fusion p
by lifty 10y ago
They are mentioning doing a fusion reactor but there are no details. Lower down the page they mention that the startup will be actually using a fission-fusion process, so they are not talking about classic self sustained fusion that we haven't been able to maintain yet. They are using the fusion word a bit lightly. Fusion is a big deal.
- Grangar 10y agoI'm no nuclear physicist, but they might use the fission reaction as a primer for the fusion?
- lifty 10y agoWell, they are mentioning fusion-fission reactions, which use fusion to trigger fission. But on an ongoing basis. As far as I can understand, stable fusion is not achieved.
- alexfarran 10y agoThis article in Popular Mechanics explains it a bit better http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a25922/apollo-fusion-startup-googler-nuclear-power/ http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a25922/apollo...
- DennisP 10y agoThey're probably using fusion neutrons to kick off fission reactions. People have talked about this idea for years but I don't think anyone's attempted it until now. By adding uranium you don't need to get net power from fusion alone, which is really hard. The extremely high-energy neutrons from D-T fusion can fission U238, not just the scarce U235, which means you don't need enrichment and you get very little long-term waste. By having the fusion reactor as a neutron source, you can use subcritical amounts of uranium, so there's no chance of a runaway reaction. If something goes wrong with the fusion reactor it just stops, and without the fusion neutrons the fission shuts down too.