Nuclear binding-energy difference → Chemical fuel

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.20 × C.27 · Nuclear binding-energy difference × Nuclear heatfamily: Nuclear heatD.20 × C.33 · Nuclear binding-energy difference × Thermodiffusivefamily: ThermodiffusiveD.20 × C.30 · Nuclear binding-energy difference × Biologicalfamily: Biological

Typed bounds on this route

Every limit the atlas holds for this route, as constraint records: reached through bounded_by claims on the route's own entities. Hard bounds (an upper bound or a formula) decide the thermodynamic-bound check above; benchmarks, constitutive relations and resource limits are listed and never decisive. No prose limit exists anywhere (pass 42).

• Carnot limit · formula-bound · hard, applies to this route
  η ≤ 1 − T_c/T_h for any heat engine between reservoirs at T_h and T_c
• Onsager–Casimir reciprocity · constitutive-relation · listed, never decisive
  L_ij(B) = ε_i ε_j L_ji(−B): the cross-coefficients of coupled linear transport are equal up to the time-reversal parities ε of the variables and reversal of the magnetic field; L_ij = L_ji is the zero-field, even-parity case

Steps

1. 01
   Nuclear binding-energy difference —drives→ Nuclear fusiondemonstratedclaim record

   nuclear → kinetic · loss to radiative

   • for a power-producing D–T thermonuclear plasma: ion temperatures of order 10 keV and a sufficient density–confinement product (Lawson); these are power-balance conditions, not prerequisites for an individual fusion reaction

   plasma · above ~700 K

   Fusion reactions and target-level fusion energy release are experimentally demonstrated (target gain > 1 at NIF, 2022–2024); net electrical output from a fusion power plant is not.

   refs [1] [2] [3]
2. 02
   Nuclear fusion —produces→ Temperature gradientdemonstratedclaim record

   kinetic → thermal · loss to radiative

   • energetic products (neutrons, alphas) deposit their kinetic energy in a blanket or the plasma, which then runs hotter than its surroundings

   refs [2] [3]
3. 03
   Temperature gradient —drives→ Soret effectestablishedclaim record

   thermal → chemical · loss to thermal

   • a liquid mixture or solution under a steady temperature gradient

   liquid · temperature gradient required

   refs [4] [5]
4. 04
   Soret effect —produces→ Concentration gradientestablishedclaim record

   chemical → chemical

   refs [5]
5. 05
   Concentration gradient —drives→ Chemiosmosisestablishedclaim record

   chemical → chemical · loss to thermal

   • a proton gradient across a membrane containing ATP synthase

   aqueous medium required · selective membrane required · room temperature

   refs [6] [7]
6. 06
   Chemiosmosis —converts into→ Chemical fuelestablishedclaim record

   chemical → chemical · loss to thermal

   • ATP synthesised from ADP and phosphate

   refs [6] [7]

Evidence for the complete composition · 0

No source on record for this exact composition. The sources below support the individual steps, not the route as a whole.

Evidence for the constituent relations · 7

1. [1]
   H. A. Bethe. Energy production in stars (1939)

   Physical Review 55, 434 · doi:10.1103/PhysRev.55.434 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
2. [2]
   J. D. Lawson. Some criteria for a power producing thermonuclear reactor (1957)

   Proceedings of the Physical Society B 70, 6–10 · doi:10.1088/0370-1301/70/1/303 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
3. [3]
   H. Abu-Shawareb, et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration). Achievement of target gain larger than unity in an inertial fusion experiment (2024)

   Physical Review Letters 132, 065102 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.065102 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
4. [4]
   C. Soret. Sur l'état d'équilibre que prend au point de vue de sa concentration une dissolution saline primitivement homogène dont deux parties sont portées à des températures différentes (1879)

   Archives des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles 2, 48–61 · paper, no DOI · record
5. [5]
   S. R. de Groot, P. Mazur. Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics (1962)

   North-Holland · book, no DOI · record
6. [6]
   P. Mitchell. Coupling of phosphorylation to electron and hydrogen transfer by a chemi-osmotic type of mechanism (1961)

   Nature 191, 144–148 · doi:10.1038/191144a0 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
7. [7]
   D. G. Nicholls, S. J. Ferguson. Bioenergetics (4th ed.) (2013)

   Academic Press · doi:10.1016/C2010-0-64902-9 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record