Laser Fusion
Laser Fusion - Related Videos
02:45
Nuclear Fusion
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2020
The process of converting very light nuclei into heavier nuclei is also accompanied by the conversion of mass into large amounts of energy, a process called fusion. The principal source of energy in the sun is a net fusion reaction in which four hydrogen nuclei fuse and ultimately produce one helium nucleus and two positrons. A helium nucleus has a mass that is 0.7% less than that of four hydrogen nuclei; this lost mass is converted into energy during the fusion. This reaction produces about...
14:18
Automation of Mode Locking in a Nonlinear Polarization Rotation Fiber Laser through Output Polarization Measurements
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Cited by 2 •
2016
A protocol to detect and automate mode locking in a pre-adjusted nonlinear polarization rotation fiber laser is presented. The detection of a sudden change in the output polarization state when mode locking occurs is used to command the alignment of an intra-cavity polarization controller in order to find mode-locking conditions.
09:19
Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay
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2012
We have developed a cell fusion assay that quantifies SNARE-mediated membrane fusion events by activated expression of β-galactosidase.
06:10
Live Imaging of Mouse Secondary Palate Fusion
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Cited by 11 •
2017
Here, we present a protocol for live imaging of mouse secondary palate fusion using confocal microscopy. This protocol can be used in combination with a variety of fluorescent reporter mouse lines, and with pathway inhibitors for mechanistic insight. This protocol can be adapted for live imaging in other developmental systems.
06:14
Assessment of Mitochondrial Fission/Fusion Dynamics in Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells
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2025
This article describes the use of confocal microscopy and ImageJ to assess mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics via Dendra2 photo-switching fluorescence.
FAQs
Laser-driven ablation removes material from the capsule’s outer layer, producing a reaction that drives the remaining fuel inward. The effectiveness of this process depends on how the capsule material responds to intense laser light and how uniformly the inward motion develops. This compression is essential because it brings the hydrogen-isotope fuel to the extreme temperature and pressure required for fusion reactions.
Deuterium and tritium serve as the hydrogen isotopes in the fuel capsule. Under the extreme conditions created during compression, their nuclei can fuse and release energy. Chemistry helps characterize these isotopes and the behavior of the atoms and ions formed in the resulting plasma, supporting interpretation of how the fuel changes during the experiment.
Capsule coatings help determine how the target interacts with the incoming laser light and how its outer layer ablates. Their composition and material behavior therefore influence the inward drive applied to the fuel. Designing these coatings is a chemistry-related challenge because researchers must connect atomic and material properties with the compression conditions needed for fusion studies.
Synchronized laser pulses deliver energy to the target at coordinated times, helping produce the intended compression of the fuel capsule. Timing and coordination affect how the outer layer ablates and how the fuel moves inward. This control matters because the experiment must create sufficiently extreme temperature and pressure for deuterium-tritium nuclei to fuse.
An experiment begins with a small capsule containing hydrogen-isotope fuel and a planned arrangement of intense laser pulses. The pulses strike the capsule, its outer layer ablates, and the fuel is driven inward. Researchers then examine the compressed, heated material and the resulting plasma to evaluate fusion behavior and the energy released.
Reaction diagnostics provide information about what happens after the target is compressed and heated. In particular, they support studies of the atoms and ions present in the resulting plasma and help researchers examine the fusion reaction and its energy release. These measurements connect target-material design with the physical and chemical conditions produced during the experiment.
Chemistry contributes to several parts of the research program, including fuel materials, capsule coatings, and reaction diagnostics. It also provides a framework for studying atoms and ions in the plasma created during compression. These contributions connect molecular and materials knowledge with broader goals in clean-energy technology, materials science, and studies of astrophysical conditions.