FAQ

What is the difference between fusion and fission?

• Fusion combines light elements such as hydrogen isotopes, releasing energy in the process.
• Fission splits heavy radioactive elements like uranium to release energy.

Is fusion energy safe and clean?

• Inherently Safe: The reaction cannot result in a reactor core meltdown. If the extreme heat is lost or the magnetic confinement fails, the reaction simply stops.
• No Long-Lived Waste: It does not produce high-level, long-lived nuclear waste. The main byproduct is helium.
• Zero Greenhouse Gases: The process does not emit CO2 or other greenhouse gases.

What is the fuel source?

• It typically uses isotopes of hydrogen: deuterium distilled from seawater and tritium, which is produced on-site during the reaction using lithium.

Why don't we use it on the power grid yet?

• Scientific Challenge: Sustaining the ultra-high heat and pressure often exceeding ten times the core of the sun requires immense energy input. Scientists are still working to achieve a continuous net energy gain.
• Materials & Magnets: Building containers capable of withstanding the high-energy neutrons and magnetic confinement remains a material engineering challenge.

How is the Novatron different from a tokamak device?

• Tokamak is a toroidal closed-field line magnetic confinement fusion device
• Novatron is a straight open-field line mirror-cusp type magnetic confinement fusion device

What is the main advantage of Novatron compared to a conventional mirror device?

• The Novatron provides magnetohydrodynamic stability to interchange modes in an axisymmetric magnetic field configuration