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Humanity has known for decades that there's no known metal that will survive fusion's neutron output. They all turn into radioactive garbage. Until we solve th
by telgareith 2y ago
Humanity has known for decades that there's no known metal that will survive fusion's neutron output. They all turn into radioactive garbage.
Until we solve that, why bother with fusion?
- _xerces_ 2y agoFrom my admittedly limited knowledge gleaned from occasional PopSci articles posted here on HN over the years, don't they use plasma trapped in magnetic fields to contain the reaction and not a particular metal?
- danielbln 2y agoIt's about the radiation, which isn't contained by the magnetic field. The latter "just" keeps the plasma from melting the walls.
- telgareith 2y agoWell, the magnetic or inertial confinement keeps the reactants dense/close enough to react. The heat itself is entirely absorbed by the walls. As well as the previously mentioned neutron flux. Also, heres one of many sources- this was found as part of looking up HFIR's name. https://arpa-e.energy.gov/sites/default/files/B03-Wirth-FusionWorkshop_03-08-23.pdf https://arpa-e.energy.gov/sites/default/files/B03-Wirth-Fusi...
- tim333 2y agoFast breeder reactors seem to survive fast neutrons.