What’s on : Lectures

Fusion: A Solution to the Energy Crisis?

Lectures
Date
4 Nov 2008
Start time
7:30 PM
Venue
Tempest Anderson Hall
Speaker
Dr Roddy Vann
Fusion: A Solution to the Energy Crisis?

Event Information

Dr Roddy Vann is a lecturer at the Department of Physics, The Univeristy of York.

Fusion is the process that powers stars (including our own sun): it’s the production of energy(according to Einstein’s famous equation E = mc2) by the joining of two light nuclei (such as hydrogen) to produce a larger nucleus (such as helium). In the current regime of apparently dwindling supplies of traditional fuels and perhaps increased political instability, the world is seeking a power source that is safe, environmentally-friendly, does not lead to the proliferation of weapons, and has a plentiful supply of fuel. I will argue that fusion satisfies these conditions. Having motivated our interest in fusion, I will explain why it is that, after fifty years of research, fusion is still not delivering electricity to our homes and businesses. I will demonstrate the tremendous progress that has been made, the challenges that remain, and the exciting science that is being undertaken to overcome them.

Dr Vann describes why nuclear fusion power could be a long term technological solution to the global energy problem which is still reliant on fossil fuels and consequently an ongoing contributer to increased global warming.

Nuclear fusion is the process that occurs in the sun. Replicating the process on Earth is a difficult process and requires sophisticated engineering. The physics of the process are explained and the current state-of the-art experimental reactor is described.

Sponsored by Institute of Physics