quote:Unlike some previous claims of room-temperature fusion, this one makes intuitive sense: its just another way to get atoms close enough together for the strong force to take over and do the rest. Once the reaction got going, the scientists observed not only the production of helium nuclei, but other tell-tale signs of fusion such as free neutrons and high energy radiation.
This experiment has been repeated successfully and other scientists have reviewed the results: it looks like the real thing this time.
However, the process is not yet energy-efficient, so don't expect your cars to be powered by fusion anytime soon. Still, this is an interesting breakthrough, since the device is small, simple, and doesn't require high temperatures.
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Don't current nuclear reactors generate electricity with turbines powered by steam preasure from water heated by the nuclear reaction? Could one of the local experts explain to me how without heat you can generate power?
Posts: 43 | Registered: Oct 2001
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It's not that the reaction doesn't generate heat. It's called "cold fusion" because normally hydrogen is heated to millions of degrees in order to get the reaction started. However, this process can be carried out closer to temperatures that are normal (for us).
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Oops! Forgot to post the link. The article is new; it came out yesterday. And yes, according to the article they have seen helium nuclei, so I assume that means fusion.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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This bit makes me think that it could be right as well:
quote:For the time being, don't expect fusion to become a readily available energy option. The current cold fusion apparatus still takes much more energy to start up than you get back out, and it may never end up breaking even. In the mean time, the crystal-fusion device might be used as a compact source of neutrons and X-rays, something that could turn out to be useful making small scanning machines. But it really may not be long until we have the first nuclear fusion-powered devices in common use.
Thanks for the update. Posts: 410 | Registered: Apr 2005
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