Deuterium–tritium fusion

Deuterium–tritium fusion (sometimes abbreviated D+T) is a type of

is placed on the walls of the reactor, as lithium, when exposed to energetic neutrons, will produce tritium.

Concept

In deuterium–tritium fusion, one

mass-energy relation

: ${\displaystyle E=mc^{2}}$. 80% of the energy (14.1 MeV) becomes kinetic energy of the neutron traveling at 1⁄6 the

The mass difference between D+T and neutron+⁴He is described by the semi-empirical mass formula that describes the relation between mass defects and binding energy in a nucleus.

Discovery

Evidence of the D+T reaction was first detected at the University of Michigan in 1938 by Arthur Ruhlig.^{[2][non-primary source needed]} His experiment detected the signature of neutrons with energy greater than 15 MeV in secondary reactions of tritium created in ${\displaystyle ^{2}}$H${\displaystyle (d,p)^{3}}$H reactions of a 0.5 MeV

target, D${\displaystyle _{3}}$PO${\displaystyle _{4}}$. This discovery was largely unrecognized until recently.

Reactant sourcing

About 1 in every 5,000 hydrogen atoms in seawater is deuterium, making it easy to acquire.^[1][4]

Deuterium–tritium fusion is planned to be used in ITER,^[6] as well as many other proposed fusion reactors. It provides many advantages over other types of fusion, as it has a relatively low minimum temperature of 100 million degrees C.^[8]

See also

• Fusion power#Deuterium, tritium
• Deuterium fusion

References