Fusion Energy Progress
Fusion energy mimics stellar processes, fusing light nuclei like deuterium and tritium to release vast energy via E=mc². Unlike fission, it produces no long-lived radioactive waste, offering a clean baseload power source. Tokamaks confine plasma at 150 million°C using magnetic fields, while stellarators optimize stability without induced currents.
ITER, the international experimental reactor, achieved first plasma in 2025, targeting 500 MW output from 50 MW input by 2035. Private ventures like Commonwealth Fusion Systems use high-temperature superconductors for compact reactors, aiming for net gain by 2028. Laser inertial confinement at NIF yielded 3.15 MJ in 2022, surpassing breakeven.
High-beta plasmas and divertors manage heat exhaust, critical for steady-state operation. AI-driven control stabilizes disruptions in milliseconds. Fuel cycles evolve toward aneutronic p-B11 reactions, minimizing neutrons.
Challenges: materials withstand neutron bombardment; tritium breeding sustains fuel. Science Catalogs indexes breakthroughs in spherical tokamaks and field-reversed configurations. Fusion's promise: terawatts of carbon-free power, decarbonizing grids and desalination. With $6B+ annual investment, commercialization nears.
