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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You need fuel in the form of heavy isotopes that can be broken apart and fuse during the reaction. Once all the energy is released it is over. The sun seems self-sufficient but it just has a massive fuel source that will last it eons.
The idea is you need a LOT of energy to START a fusion reaction, but after it gets going you get incredible fuel efficiency. Only a very small pellet could provide gigawatts. The biggest hurdle we have in fusion is simply pumping enough energy into the fuel to get a good reaction started.
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