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nuclear fusion: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As atomic fusion • fusion • thermonuclear fusion

Photos and Videos

laser-activated fusion
Diagram showing the sequence of uranium nucleus fission after being struck by a neutron: the nucleus absorbs the neutron, deforms, splits into fragments, releases more neutrons and gamma rays, and emits beta particles as the fragments decay. Labels identify neutrons, protons, beta particles, and gamma rays, with accompanying explanatory text.
reaction rate as a function of plasma temperature
Tokamak magnetic confinement
Nuclear fission and fusion
What is the difference between nuclear fission and fusion?
Fission of a uranium nucleus by a neutron
helium
Explore the physics behind nuclear fusion and the Sun
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Key People

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Yevgeny Konstantinovich Zavoysky
Soviet physicist
Hans Bethe.
Hans Bethe
American physicist
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Igor Vasilyevich Kurchatov
Soviet physicist
Lyman Spitzer, Jr.
Lyman Spitzer
American astrophysicist
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Gersh Itskovich Budker
Soviet physicist
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William Draper Harkins
American chemist