A Simple Guide To Cold Fusion

Fusion is a nuclear reaction which joins two smaller atoms together into a larger atom, releasing great quantities of energy.

The type of atom most common in fusion reactions is a form of hydrogen called deuterium. Although most hydrogen nuclei consist of just a positively charged proton, deuterium also contains an uncharged particle called a neutron.

Under certain conditions, deuterium nuclei combine and form a helium nucleus and release a tremendous amount of energy as heat.

Scientists theorize that conventional fusion yields one of two products: a helium nucleus consisting of two protons and one neutron and a high-energy neutron; or a radioactive form of hydrogen made up of two neutrons and a proton and a hydrogen ion.

In addition to being the energy source for the sun and other stars, fusion is also the process that powers hydrogen bombs.

Unlike fission, the other type of nuclear reaction in which large atomic nuclei split apart into smaller atoms, fusion does not produce significant quantities of radioactive materials.

Because of its potential for "clean" energy and the virtually infinite source of deuterium fuel in seawater, scientists have long tried to produce fusion power on Earth.

Most of the attempts have used multi-billion dollar techniques to reproduce the incredible pressures and temperatures in the center of the sun, where fusion occurs freely. Scientists have used either powerful magnets to keep the hot hydrogen plasma--at about 200 million degrees Centigrade--from touching anything physical or huge lasers to heat a small pellet of deuterium to similar temperatures.

These techniques, however, have failed to produce a larger energy output than that used to cause the reaction.

What scientists say is exciting about so-called cold fusion reactions is that the equipment it requires is not nearly as expensive and the energy required to start the reaction is not as great.