Answer to Question #160167 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for Yolande

Question

Which of the fuel conditions is not necessary to operate a self-sustained controlled fusion reactor?
(A) the fuel must be at a sufficiently high temperature
(B) the fuel must be radioactive
(C) the fuel must be at a sufficiently high density.
(D) the fuel must be confined for a sufficently long period of time.

Answer 1

Answer (B). The nuclei must be energetic enough to overcome the Coulomb repulsion between them so that they can get close enough to fuse, and numerous enough for many collisions to occur in a short period of time so that the reaction produces more energy than it requires to operate.