So wake me up when someone achieves a fusion reaction lasting over one hour and in a that doesn't require extensive maintenance after the run.

Oh the current record for sustained fusion reaction is held by the Hefei Institute at an "incredible" 102 seconds

Fusion power always seems to be twenty some-odd years into the future. It's been that way for 50 some-odd years.

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I don't know anything about nuclear physics, but I gather this wet blanket surrounding the reaction is the key part of fusion, so this work is really important, but I dont understand why. I read about something called 'demon core' that showed neutrons can be reflected by neutron mirrors, they can even have gratings for neutron holograms and such. So why doesn't a fusion reactor use this to shoot out a beam of neutrons somewhere, instead of absorbing them itself? Probably stupid question, but I really wonder.

@luke, I think the idea is to absorb the neutrons into the lithium, which can absorb them without becoming radioactive, to reduce or eliminate radioactive contamination of the other materials in the reactor. But that's just a guess; the article isn't all that well written.

Thx Da Schneib. I guess I'll have read more about the basics of fusion design.

I can clarify it a little bit, having done some digging: apparently the lithium has a serendipitous effect which is to help stabilize the plasma, in addition to absorbing stray neutrons from the reaction. Unfortunately the article doesn't discuss how this effect works.

my theory of cold fusion is based on it

@zeph
false claim ( http://www.auburn...ion.html )

what the word "theory" means in the scientific world-

A scientific theory is an explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can, in accordance with the scientific method, be repeatedly tested, using a predefined protocol of observations and experiments. Established scientific theories have withstood rigorous scrutiny and are a comprehensive form of scientific knowledge.

you do not have a theory, you have delusional speculations of pseudoscience

and to prove it i can simply point to the fact that you have no working design creating energy making you the only person to date to produce a cold fusion power generator or even a working CF theory that can be tested, replicated and shown to work

techy sounding jargon does not a theory make

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