Nuclear Fusion Reactions

Nuclear fusion reactions occur when light atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen isotopes, collide at high speeds and combine to form heavier nuclei, releasing vast amounts of energy in the process. This is the same reaction that powers the sun. In fusion plasma physics, scientists study the conditions required for fusion, including high temperatures and pressures, to create a plasma—a hot, ionized gas of charged particles. The goal is to harness this energy as a clean and virtually limitless power source for future energy needs, by replicating the sun's processes here on Earth.