Interior of the Joint European Torus (JET) tokamak, the largest magnetic confinement fusion device in the world.
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Image courtesy of JET

Fusion Experiments

There are several experiments where nuclear fusion reactions have been achieved in a controlled manner (that means no bombs are involved!!). The two main approaches that are being explored are magnetic confinement fusion and inertial confinement fusion.

Right now, these fusion devices take in more energy than they produce. So they can't be used right now as an energy source. But tremendous progress has been made since the first experiments done in the early 1960's. Nuclear fusion appears a possible and environmentally sound alternate energy source for the 21st century.

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