The D-T Fusion Reaction
| The first generation
of fusion power plants will use the D-T fusion reaction, shown schematically
in the above animation. Nuclei of two isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium
(D) and tritium (T) react to produce a helium (He) nucleus
and a neutron (n). In each reaction, 17.6 MeV of energy (2.8 pJ)
is liberated:
D + T |
4He (3.5 MeV) + n (14.1 MeV)