1. Fusion and tokamak

1.1 Fusion research

The formation of light nuclei requires proportionally more energy than the formation of nuclei of average atomic weight. Energy can therefore be recovered by combining light nuclei to make heavier ones. This fusion mechanism is the source of energy for stars... and for the H-bomb. The coulombic repulsion of the nuclei prevents them from coming together and fusing, which can only happen through the quantum effect. Research into controlled thermonuclear fusion aims to bring together the conditions required for the easiest reaction - fusion between the two hydrogen isotopes, deuterium and tritium - to take place continuously or semi-continuously. These conditions relate to the temperature T of the medium (at least 10 ⁸ ...