The world is currently dealing with an energy crisis. Oil prices are continuously fluctuating, inching up, down, and then up some more. Coal, for what its worth, is still a dirty source of energy, and traditional nuclear energy comes with massive risks and waste that lasts for centuries. So what is the world to do when our population is growing at an ever increasing rate, pollution is at an all time high, and there doesn't seem to be enough renewable energy sources to feed the needs of our billions. Well, there is a project currently being worked on that could, if all goes well, solve our energy needs with very little waste. This project is essentially a non-traditional type of nuclear energy. As opposed to fission where atoms are split to release energy to power turbines, this type is fusion where atoms are "fused" together, creating a different molecule and releasing enormous amounts of heat and energy in the process. There have been many hurdles in the process of creating a properly functioning fusion system. To start with, the whole process requires that 192 lasers be aimed perfectly at specific point the size of a BB, not an easy feat to begin with. Then there is the issue of providing enough energy to start the whole process, 120 megajoules or an amount of energy roughly equivalent to 50 pounds of TNT. But perhaps the most pressing issue currently is containing the radioactive material before and after the process.
The experiment is being carried out at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where construction of the National Ignition Facility (the stadium sized facility where the fusion experiment is housed) has been in the process for over a decade now. At the facility, they are using two types of hydrogen to fuse together to make helium. The two types of hydrogen are deuterium and tritium, the latter of which is radioactive. Due to the incredibly small origin of tritium, it is harder to contain than previously thought and the filters that are installed to prevent its release are getting clogged with atoms that are larger than tritium, forcing them to be replaced after almost every experiment. In addition, during the process of fusion in which helium is created, a neutron is released which currently can not be contained. The neutrons can seep out of the building, rise into the atmosphere, and then fall back to earth. If these current issues can be resolved, then perhaps we will be able to achieve energy freedom. But as with any new technology, all the bugs must be worked out of the system before it goes mainstream, if it ever reaches that point. The issues with the radiation vary from those experienced with normal fission, mostly because of the density and weight of the particles. Tritium dissolves in water and can therefore affect the body much differently than other forms of radiation. As with any problem, leave it to a scientist to figure it out and I am sure there will soon be a solution.
As it stands right now, the scientists working on this experiment are confident that they will see ignition occur next year. They have already had low-level ignition tests to ensure that the lasers are all configured properly and can be fired almost simultaneously. All that it seems is needed now is more energy and a few solutions to radiation issues. There are a number of skeptics out there who think that this will never work primarily because what the scientists at the facility are trying to do is create a small star on earth. Skeptics still question if the amount of energy created in the process is possible to be harnessed effectively and safely. Hopefully it can. As with any experiment, there are bound to be failures before success is eventually reached. Failures are part of the learning process where the scientists find out where improvements need to be made and how they can streamline the entire procedure. As with the failures, any experiment will also have its critics and skeptics, mostly because they are incapable of looking past the failures and impediments to the bigger picture and what the possibilities could be. I for one hope that this process can be made safer and more efficient so that we can diminish our reliance on fossil fuels that are warming are planet. I guess for now that we will have to wait and see what happens. Lets all look to the future, energy freedom, and a greener planet. Perhaps fusion will get us there, perhaps not, but we can still remain hopeful.
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