ITER will not convert the heating power it produces as electricity, but-as the first of all fusion experiments in history to produce net energy gain across the plasma-it will prepare the way for the machines that can.ģ) Contribute to the demonstration of the integrated operation of technologies for a fusion power plant

ITER is designed to yield in its plasma a ten-fold return on power (Q=10), or 500 MW of fusion power from 50 MW of input heating power. In 1997, JET produced 16 MW of fusion power from a total input heating power of 24 MW (Q=0.67). The world record for fusion power in a magnetic confinement fusion device is held by the European tokamak JET. Scientists are confident that the plasmas in ITER will not only produce much more fusion energy, but will remain stable for longer periods of time.Ģ) Generate 500 MW of fusion power in its plasma The machine has been designed specifically to:ġ) Achieve a deuterium-tritium plasma in which the fusion conditions are sustained mostly by internal fusion heatingįusion research today is at the threshold of exploring a 'burning plasma'-one in which the heat from the fusion reaction is confined within the plasma efficiently enough for the self-heating effect to dominate any other form of heating. With six times the plasma volume of the largest machine operating today, the ITER Tokamak will be a unique experimental tool, capable of longer plasmas and better confinement. and therefore the greater the potential for fusion energy. Scientists know that the larger the vessel, the larger the volume of the plasma.

Mann proposes the quark model (independently George Zweig does as well), which describes elementary particles that have no substructure (and therefore can't be split).The amount of fusion energy a tokamak is capable of producing is a direct result of the number of fusion reactions taking place in its core. Glenn Seaborg, many discoveries of the transuranium elements, as well as many advances in nuclear medicine, including the development of I-131 for thyroid disease.Įlementary particles smaller than the atom Murray Gell Otto Hahn, regarded as the father of nuclear chemistry, discovers nuclear fission, along with Lise Meitner. This also made it possible to produce elements heavier than uranium in the lab. James Chadwick discovers the neutron component of the atomic nucleus, explaining the nuclear fission of uranium 235. He also integrated the Planck quantum theory, stating that when electrons change orbits they emit a quantum of discrete energy.Įrwin Shrodinger described how electrons move in wave form, and developed the Schrodinger equation which describes how the quantum state of a system changes with time. Neils Bohr developed the Bohr atomic model, with electrons travelling in orbits around the nucleus, and chemical properties being determined by how many electrons are in the outer orbits. He used a gold foil experiment, observing the scattering of alpha particles, and demonstrated for the first time the existence of the atomic nucleus. Structure of an atom developed (1909-1911)Įrnest Rutherford known as the father of nuclear physics, developed the theory for the structure of the atom. This is known as the elementary charge, one of the fundamental physical constants. Robert Millikan measured the charge of a single electron. This was the basis of nuclear energy.Ĭharge of an electron measured (1908-1917) His quanta are now called photons by physicists.Īlbert Einstein, creates special and general theories of relativity, and hypothesizes about the particle nature of light. Max Planck introduced what would be known as quantum theory, stating that electromagnetic energy could only be emitted in quantized form. JJ Thomson discovers the electron, using properties of cathode rays. Pierre and Marie Curie theorized that radioactive particles cause atoms to break down, then releasing radiation that takes the form of energy and subatomic particles. These rays weren't deflected by a magnetic field produced in the cathode ray tube. Wilhelm Rontgen discovered that certain chemicals glowed when exposed to cathode rays. Sir William Crookes constructed a primitive cathode ray tube, which later became the basis for television. Also proposed that these atoms are spherical, and are in motion. John Dalton, a British chemist and physicist, developed a theory that matter is simply composed of atoms of different weights and is combined in ratios by weight. Democritus, a Greek philosopher, co-originated the thought (with his teacher, Leucippus) that all matter is composed of indivisible elements.

Atomic theory timeline project