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International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
ITER - The Way to Fusion
Fusion, the process that powers the sun, could one day provide a limitless
supply of energy with no greenhouse gas emissions and minimal long-lived
radioactive waste. However, to make fusion happen on earth, hydrogen
atoms must be heated to 100 million degrees, forming a plasma
which must be magnetically confined long enough for fusion to occur.
While difficult to achieve, great progress has been made. Current
experiments have reached a condition called “break even” (that is,
the fusion energy generated is equal to the energy required to run
the reactor). An international collaboration called ITER (“the way”
in Latin) is finalizing an agreement to build a next-generation
fusion reactor in Cadarache, France, designed to reach ten times
the break even point or better. Los Alamos is plays a key
role in the United States’ contribution.
Los Alamos' ITER-related chemical processing work is being performed in the Chemistry Division's Chemical Diagnostics and Engineering group. Partners include the U.S., Europe, Japan, South Korea, China, Russia, and India. ITER will be a big step in demonstrating that fusion can one day safely and cleanly meet the world's increasing energy needs.
Information released under LAUR 06-044
July 1/2008
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