How nuclear fusion works (2) - confinement, stars, nukes, inertial fusion energy

Explaning the challenge of confining a thermonuclear plasma to achieving fusion. A look at fusion inside stars, the workings of thermonuclear weapons and the peaceful pursuit of inertial confinement fusion energy. Contents 00:00 - Introduction 00:42 - Plasma confinement 06:00 - Cross sections 09:36 - Deuterium-Tritium fuel cycle 10:57 - Thermonuclear weapons 13:33 - Inertial fusion energy 17:34 - Reactor challenges 23:13 - Wrap-up References [1] Highlights from SDO's ten years of solar observation by NASA, https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13524 [2] Drawing by B. B. Kadomtsev [3] Cross section diagram of the solar interior by Kelvin Ma (User: Kelvin13) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... [4] Green plasma in xenon-nitrogen mixture by Carl Willis,    • Green plasma in xenon-nitrogen mixture   [5] J. P. Freidberg, “Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy” (CUP, 2008). ISBN: 9780521733175 [6] https://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/in... [7] H. L. Mayer, “Opacity Calculations, Past and Future” Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 4, 585 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-4073(64)... [8] “Sunbeam” by Randall Munroe, https://what-if.xkcd.com/141/ [9] https://www.energy.gov/orem/cleanup-s... [10] Photograph by Korean Central News Agency [11] G. McCracken, P. Stott “Fusion: The Energy of the Universe” (Academic Press, 2012). ISBN: 9780123846563 [12] B. A. Remington et al., “Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in high-energy density settings on the National Ignition Facility” PNAS 116, 18233 (2019). [13] J. D. Kilkenny et al., “The Role of the National Ignition Facility in Energy Production from Inertial Fusion” Philosophical Transactions: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 357, 533, (The Royal Society, 1999). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1999.0340 [14] HiPER Project website, http://www.hiper-laser.org/index.html [15] LIFE Project website (now defunct), accessed through the Wayback Machine, https://web.archive.org/web/201403051... [16] “Simulation of a shock wave striking a gas-filled cavity”, First Light Fusion website, https://firstlightfusion.com/technolo... [17] Kyle Pearce (User: keepitsurreal) on flickr https://flickr.com/photos/14558526@N0... [18] Y. Mori et al., “10-J Green DPSSL-pumped Laser System HAMA for High-repetitive Counter Irradiation Fast Heating Fusion Demonstration”, Proceedings of the IAEA 24th Fusion Energy Conference (2012). [19] E. R. Koresheva, “High rep-rate fabrication, characterization & delivery of free-standing moving cryogenic targets: overview on researches developed at LPI”, 2nd European Target Fabrication Workshop, October 27-28, 2008, Abingdon, UK. [20] D. Goodin, “Target Fabrication and Injection Challenges in Developing an IFE Reactor”, General Atomics Presentation, January 30, 2011.