Selected Problems of Nuclear Physics

Chapter 1

Abstract

1. Introduction

—the nuclear age [1].

and nuclear fusion.

2. Nuclear fission

3

Energy

Quamrul Haider

Nuclear Fusion: Holy Grail of

The declining reserves of fossil fuels and their detrimental effects on the environ-

Keywords: nuclear fission and fusion, fission and fusion reactors, fusion in the Sun, fusion on Earth, cold fusion, Coulomb barrier, fusion "ignition" temperature, Lawson criterion, Debye length, plasma confinement, magnetic and inertial

The 1930s were heady times for nuclear physics. A "hit parade" of discoveries gave us new insights into the properties of the nucleus. The means of unlocking enormous amount of energy stored inside a nucleus seemed at hand. Finally, the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938 ushered in a new era in the history of mankind

Nuclear energy is a technologically proven nonfossil energy source that made significant contribution to the world's energy supply in the past 6 decades. There are two nuclear processes in which enormous amount of energy is released from nuclear bonds between the particles within the nucleus. They are nuclear fission

The importance of nuclear fission for the production of energy is obvious. In fission reactions, a heavy nucleus is split into two lighter fragments and two or three

confinements, tokamak, stellarators, fusion torch

ment have thrust nuclear power based on fission reaction into the limelight as a promising option to energy-starved economies around the world. However, the 1986 Chernobyl and 2011 Fukushima accidents have heightened our fears about nuclear technology's ability to provide a safe way of generating clean power. There is another kind of nuclear energy that has been powering the Sun and stars since their formation. It is nuclear fusion—a process in which two lighter nuclei, typically isotopes of hydrogen, combine together under conditions of extreme pressure and temperature to form a heavier nucleus. In this chapter, harnessing the energy produced in nuclear fusion reaction in a laboratory environment is discussed. Various research programs dedicated to building fusion reactors are also discussed. Emphasis is given on overcoming some of the technological challenges, such as surmounting the Coulomb barrier, confining the plasma, and achieving the "ignition" temperature for fusion.
