Lecture

Collisions: Fusion Reactions and Bouncing

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In course

PHYS-101(en): General physics : mechanics (English)

Students will learn the principles of mechanics to enable a better understanding of physical phenomena, such as the kinematics and dyamics of point masses and solid bodies. Students will acquire the capacity to quantitatively analyze these effects with the ...

Description

This lecture covers the physics of collisions, focusing on fusion reactions and bouncing phenomena. The instructor explains the energy transformations involved in fusion reactions and analyzes the impact of collisions on the kinetic energy and impulse of bouncing objects.

Instructors (3)

Suliana Manley

From 2016 Associate professor, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland 2009-2016 Tenure-track assistant professor, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland 2006-2009 Post-Doctoral fellow, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA 2004-2006 Post-Doctoral fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA 1999-2004 PhD (Physics) Awarded 06/2004, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA 1993-1997 Bachelors (Cum Laude) Physics & Mathematics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA

Marcelo Baquero Ruiz

Teaching & PhD PhD Students Michael Goddijn, Cyrille Sepulchre Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector Kadi Lyes Roland Courses Fusion and industrial plasma technologies PHYS-632 The course provides an overview of the technologies that are essential for fusion developments and for industrial plasmaapplications, highlighting the synergies between the two fields. The aim is to provide a combined theoretical andexperimental background to the various topics. General physics : mechanics (English

Justin Richard Ball

Dr. Justin Ball is a staff scientist studying theoretical plasma physics and nuclear fusion energy. His research primarily focuses on the effect of plasma shaping on turbulence in tokamaks. He is the principle investigator of the EUROfusion Theory, Simulation, Verification, and Validation project on negative triangularity. Additionally, he is an avid fusion science communicator via magazine articles, lectures, and podcasts. In 2019, he and Jason Parisi published a popular science book titled The Future of F

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Kinetic energy

In physics, the kinetic energy of an object is the form of energy that it possesses due to its motion. It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes. The same amount of work is done by the body when decelerating from its current speed to a state of rest.

Aneutronic fusion

Aneutronic fusion is any form of fusion power in which very little of the energy released is carried by neutrons. While the lowest-threshold nuclear fusion reactions release up to 80% of their energy in the form of neutrons, aneutronic reactions release energy in the form of charged particles, typically protons or alpha particles. Successful aneutronic fusion would greatly reduce problems associated with neutron radiation such as damaging ionizing radiation, neutron activation, reactor maintenance, and requirements for biological shielding, remote handling and safety.

Mechanics

Mechanics (from Ancient Greek: μηχανική, mēkhanikḗ, "of machines") is the area of mathematics and physics concerned with the relationships between force, matter, and motion among physical objects. Forces applied to objects result in displacements or changes of an object's position relative to its environment. Theoretical expositions of this branch of physics has its origins in Ancient Greece, for instance, in the writings of Aristotle and Archimedes (see History of classical mechanics and Timeline of classical mechanics).

Fusion power

Fusion power is a proposed form of power generation that would generate electricity by using heat from nuclear fusion reactions. In a fusion process, two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, while releasing energy. Devices designed to harness this energy are known as fusion reactors. Research into fusion reactors began in the 1940s, but as of 2023, no device has reached net power. Fusion processes require fuel and a confined environment with sufficient temperature, pressure, and confinement time to create a plasma in which fusion can occur.

Fusion energy gain factor

A fusion energy gain factor, usually expressed with the symbol Q, is the ratio of fusion power produced in a nuclear fusion reactor to the power required to maintain the plasma in steady state. The condition of Q = 1, when the power being released by the fusion reactions is equal to the required heating power, is referred to as breakeven, or in some sources, scientific breakeven. The energy given off by the fusion reactions may be captured within the fuel, leading to self-heating.

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