eli5: once we are able to sustain a fusion reaction, it is supposed to be a self sustaining process (so I have read). How would we be able to “switch off ” this process, and wouldn’t a self sustaining process be an example of a perpetual process?
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Think of it like this you need a match and perhaps firelighters to light a fire. They provide initial heat to get your main fuel burning. If the match and fire lighters go.out too soon the main fire can go out as its not generatting enough heat. However hopefully eventually the wood or other fuel will start to burn enough before the firelighters burn out. At that point provided you add more wood the fire is self sustaining the heat from one piece of wood provides the energy to get another piece burning and so on.
Fusion is the same. At present because of limits to our technology the reaction only happens for a short period because for example gaps or variations in the magnetic containment field in the reactor that allow too much energy to escape, or in sustaining the supply of Tritium. Eventually we will solve these issues and the reactions will continue as long as we kep adding hydrogen to the reactor. But a short time after we stop doing so te fusion will cease just like a campfire you don’t add wood too.
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