Nuclear binding-energy difference → Electrical work

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.34 · Nuclear binding-energy difference × Marangonifamily: MarangoniD.20 × C.23 · Nuclear binding-energy difference × Electrokineticfamily: Electrokinetic

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→ Marangoni effectestablishedclaim record

   thermal → kinetic · loss to thermal

   • thermocapillary case: surface tension falls with temperature, so a temperature gradient along the interface drives flow toward the cold side

   liquid · temperature gradient required

   refs [4] [5]
4. 04
   Marangoni effect —produces→ Pressure gradienttheoretically predictedclaim record

   kinetic → mechanical · loss to thermal

   • a thermocapillary-driven liquid plug moves in a closed-ended microchannel and compresses the trapped gas; the pressure rise is the load presented to the compliant membrane

   Kept below demonstrated: the Odukoya device measured heater and droplet behaviour, while the pressure field feeding the membrane (about 0.1 kPa for a 13 μm deflection in the model) comes from the force balance, not a measurement.

   refs [6] [7]
5. 05
   Pressure gradient —drives→ Streaming potentialestablishedclaim record

   mechanical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • electrolyte forced through a channel with charged walls; efficiency peaks when the Debye length is comparable to the channel width

   aqueous medium required · bulk flow required

   refs [8] [9]
6. 06
   Streaming potential —produces→ Ionic currentestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical

   refs [8] [9]
7. 07
   Ionic current —converts into→ Electrical workestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • electrodes exchange the ionic current for an electronic current through the external load

   refs [10]

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 · 10

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]
   L. E. Scriven, C. V. Sternling. The Marangoni Effects (1960)

   Nature 187, 186-188 · doi:10.1038/187186a0 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-20 · record
5. [5]
   Q. Dai et al.. Directional interfacial motion of liquids: Fundamentals, evaluations, and manipulation strategies (2021)

   Tribology International 154, 106749 · doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2020.106749 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-20 · record
6. [6]
   P. S. Glockner, G. F. Naterer. Surface tension and frictional resistance of thermocapillary pumping in a closed microchannel (2006)

   International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 49(23–24), 4424–4436 · doi:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2006.05.005 · record
7. [7]
   A. Odukoya, G. F. Naterer. Transient response of thermocapillary pumping of a droplet in a micro heat engine (2013)

   International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 58, 202–212 · doi:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2012.11.009 · record
8. [8]
   J. Yang et al.. Electrokinetic microchannel battery by means of electrokinetic and microfluidic phenomena (2003)

   Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 13, 963 · doi:10.1088/0960-1317/13/6/320 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
9. [9]
   R. J. Hunter. Zeta Potential in Colloid Science: Principles and Applications (1981)

   Academic Press · doi:10.1016/C2013-0-07389-6 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
10. [10]
    A. J. Bard, L. R. Faulkner. Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals and Applications (2nd ed.) (2001)

    Wiley · book, no DOI · record