Introduction to Fusion

The need for fusion could not be more pronounced than today: the world is experiencing a multifacted energy crisis, in terms of environmental disaster, political instability, loss of technology leadership and climate change. In the last year we have witnessed unprecedented environmental catastrophes brought on by our reliance on out-dated and unsafe technologies. We have seen unstable areas of the world become less stable: these are the regions on which we depend for our energy imports. Spending in the far east on fusion energy technology outstrips the US several times over: the US now maintains a tenuous ‘one publication lead’ in some areas, and in others has just lost the race. Finally, the longer term desire to reduce carbon emissions, and lessen our impact on the world, will require new energy sources.

Fusion is coming into it’s own today. It is the best of all possible solutions: it is inherently safe – even in worst case, there’s no need for evacuation; it would make any nation independent (lithium and deuterium are both naturally abundant, lithium is usually obtained from salt lakes); technological leadership can be regained by a new fusion economy; and with working reactors coming online we stand a chance of impacting the growth in demand throughout the world with a non carbon-producing energy source.

The time is now for fusion.

The presentation on the history of fusion given to Earth and Space Sciences in May 2011 can be downloaded here.

The following presentation was given to the Northwest Energy Angels on 6/24/10 by Dr. S. Woodruff.

Some references to set the context: