For the past 70 years, scientists have been working towards unlocking viable nuclear fusion technology. But what is the holdup? Clearly the science “works” because stars exist. Why can’t modern technology generate a stable, commercially viable fusion reaction? From my perspective, there are likely only three scenarios impeding a nuclear fusion industry.
Is it a matter of materials engineering technology, where we simply cannot fashion the machinery/ equipment capable of handing the intense temperatures associated with fusion?
Do we not have the right mixture of fuels, precursors, and “catalysts” to trigger a stable reaction?
Or does the tech actually work fine and flawlessly, but it is just extremely cost prohibitive to set up a fusion reactor when a coal/oil/gas power plant already exists and investing capital refuses to fund fusion projects?
In: Engineering
Just look at the expense, size, and complexity of the NIF.
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