Q.

Scientists are working hard to develop nuclear fusion reactor. Nuclei of heavy hydrogen, H12, known as deuteron and denoted by D, can be thought of as a candidate for fusion reactor. The D-D reaction is H12+H12→He23+n+energy. In the core of fusion reactor, a gas of heavy hydrogen is fully ionized into deuteron nuclei and electrons. This collection of H12 nuclei and electrons is known as plasma. The nuclei move randomly in the reactor core and occasionally come close enough for nuclear fusion to take place. Usually, the temperatures in the reactor core are too high and no material wall can be used to confine the plasma. Special techniques are used which confine the plasma for a time t0 before the particles fly away from the core. If n is the density (number/volume) of deuterons, the product nt0 is called Lawson number. In one of the criteria, a reactor is termed successful if Lawson number is greater than 5×1014s/cm3. It may be helpful to use the following: Boltzmann constant k=8.6×10-5eV/K; e24πε0=1.44×10-9 eVm                          [2009]

Q.    In the core of nuclear fusion reactor, the gas becomes plasma because of

1 strong nuclear force acting between the deuterons  
2 coulomb force acting between the deuterons  
3 coulomb force acting between deuteron-electron pairs  
4 the high temperature maintained inside the reactor core  

Ans.

(4)

In the core of a nuclear fusion reactor, the gas becomes plasma, a collection of H12 nuclei and electrons, which is formed due to the high temperature maintained inside the reactor core. High temperature is required for nuclear fusion.