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How does a fusion reactor convert fusion energy into electricity?

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laser-activated fusion — nuclear fusion Interior of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Ignition Facility (NIF), located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California. The NIF target chamber uses a high-energy laser to heat fusion fuel to temperatures sufficient for thermonuclear ignition. The facility is used for basic science, fusion energy research, and nuclear weapons testing.

In a fusion reactor, the conversion of fusion energy into electricity relies on capturing the energy released by fusion reactions and utilizing it to drive conventional power-generation equipment.1

In the most common deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion reaction, the process releases energy in the form of high-energy neutrons and alpha particles. Because neutrons lack an electric charge, they are unaffected by the magnetic fields used to confine the plasma and escape the core. These neutrons deposit their energy into a surrounding material, often referred to as a "blanket" made of substances such as lithium.1

This blanket acts as a heat exchanger, absorbing the kinetic energy of the neutrons and converting it into heat. This generated heat is then used to produce steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity, similar to the process used in conventional power plants. Meanwhile, the charged alpha particles remain within the plasma, where they help maintain the high temperatures necessary for the fusion reaction to continue.123