International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

Definition

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is a large-scale scientific experiment aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a sustainable energy source. It seeks to replicate the fusion processes that power the Sun, producing energy by fusing hydrogen nuclei into helium.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. ITER is designed to produce 500 megawatts of fusion power from 50 megawatts of input heating power, achieving a tenfold energy gain.
2. It uses deuterium and tritium, isotopes of hydrogen, as fuel for its fusion reactions.
3. The reactor's core component is the tokamak, a magnetic confinement device that uses powerful magnetic fields to contain hot plasma.
4. ITER's success could pave the way for commercial fusion reactors, providing a virtually limitless and clean energy source.
5. The project involves collaboration among 35 countries, including major contributors like the European Union, United States, Russia, China, India, Japan, and South Korea.

Review Questions

• What type of nuclear reaction does ITER aim to replicate?
• What are the primary fuel sources used in ITER's fusion reactions?
• How much more energy does ITER aim to produce compared to its input heating power?

Related terms

tokamak: A magnetic confinement device used in nuclear fusion reactors to contain hot plasma using powerful magnetic fields.

deuterium: An isotope of hydrogen with one proton and one neutron in its nucleus.

tritium: A radioactive isotope of hydrogen with one proton and two neutrons in its nucleus.