Phenomenon · phenomenon:nuclear-fusion
Nuclear fusion
Light nuclei overcoming their Coulomb repulsion merge into a more tightly bound nucleus, releasing the binding-energy difference as particle kinetic energy.
Atlas record: 4 claims reference this phenomenon — 2 demonstrated and 2 established.
Explorerelations · matrix context · routes · sources · cite
conditions: plasma · above ~700 K
4claims59enumerated routes0routes with complete-composition evidence20candidate routes not searched3cited sources
Relations
drives · 1
- 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
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.
produces · 1
- energetic products (neutrons, alphas) deposit their kinetic energy in a blanket or the plasma, which then runs hotter than its surroundings
member of · 1
governed by · 1
Matrix context
D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.
Enumerated routes through this · 59 (showing 24)
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermal emission → Light2/4 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Alkali-metal thermal-to-electric conversion → Ionic current → Electrical work1/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Ionic thermoelectric effect → Ionic current → Electrical work3/5 est · candidate
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Marangoni effect → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermal shape-memory effect → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermochemical redox cycle → Chemical fuel (H₂, CO, syngas) → Chemical fuel3/5 est · candidate
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermopolarization effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work1/5 est · weakly supported
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermopolarization effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work1/5 est · weakly supported
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Seebeck effect → Charge carriers → Electrical work3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Heat conduction → Heat flow → Useful heat3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermionic emission → Charge carriers → Electrical work3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermogalvanic effect → Ionic current → Electrical work3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle → Ionic current → Electrical work1/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Nernst effect → Charge carriers → Electrical work3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Anomalous Nernst effect → Charge carriers → Electrical work3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Working-fluid expansion (heat-engine cycle) → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work1/5 est · candidate
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Advective heat transport → Heat flow → Useful heat3/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermo-osmosis → Streaming potential → Ionic current → Electrical work3/6 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermomagnetic convection → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work3/6 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Soret effect → Concentration gradient → Chemiosmosis → Chemical fuel4/6 est · extends a recorded pathway
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermal expansion → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Cooling3/6 est · candidate
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermal expansion → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Useful heat3/6 est · candidate
- Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Marangoni effect → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Cited sources · 3
- [1]J. D. Lawson. Some criteria for a power producing thermonuclear reactor (1957)
- [2]H. Abu-Shawareb, et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration). Achievement of target gain larger than unity in an inertial fusion experiment (2024)
- [3]H. A. Bethe. Energy production in stars (1939)
Cite this entity
Physical Transformation Atlas (2026). entity phenomenon:nuclear-fusion: Nuclear fusion. Dataset revision rbfbfcbb70e57 (hash of the canonical data). https://physical-transformation-atlas.wldud5192.workers.dev/phenomenon/nuclear-fusion
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