130 Electrical Power Systems Technology
the laser-induced method, must be considered. It is thought that the pulsed-
laser technique may be a viable alternative method for producing sustained
nuclear-fusion reactions. This process is presently being developed with
deuterium being considered as the proposed fuel.
FUTURE OF NUCLEAR FUSION
Since nuclear fusion is considered to be environmentally safe and
would use a very abundant fuel, much research is being done to formu-
late ways of controlling the fusion-reaction process. Fusion reactors have
not yet been developed beyond the theoretical stages. The problems in-
volved in constructing a fusion reactor center around the vast amounts of
heat produced. The fusion fuel must be heated to a high temperature and,
then, the heated fuel must be confined for a long enough period of time
that the energy released by the fusion process can become greater than the
energy that was required to heat the fuel to its reaction temperature. This
is necessary in order to sustain the fusion reaction and to produce continu-
ous energy.
Figure 5-7. Proposed design of a laser-induced nuclear fusion power system