Nuclear fusion

Nuclear fusion is a reaction where two different atomic nuclei are combined to form one or more different nuclei and subatomic particles. The reaction can potentially release energy and be a more powerful and cleaner source of energy than nuclear fission. It is an essential part of the Fallout series.
==Overview==
Although the idea of harnessing power from fusion energy had been proposed since the 1940s, the only "practical" use for these weapons was the development of thermonuclear weapons, with yields several times greater than fission-based weapons. It was not until the global energy crisis of the 21st century that the United States finally developed a practical way to harness nuclear fusion for energy generation. The earliest known claimed use of fusion as a commercial power source was in 2053, the supposed culmination of ten years of research by Karl Oslow and his company Mass Fusion.Mass Fusion building terminal entries; customer service terminal, Company History Meanwhile, conventional fuel sources such as petroleum became ever more scarce. By 2060, fuel had become so precious that automobile traffic had largely declined, leading to greater exploration of alternative fuel sources. Electric and fusion-powered vehicles began to be manufactured, but only in limited numbers, causing pressure on fusion research to increase.Fallout Bible 0:"2060 Traffic on the streets of the world stops moving. Fuel becomes too precious to waste on automobiles, so alternatives are explored - electric and fusion cars begin to be manufactured, but factories can only make limited amounts. Pressure on fusion research increases.2065-2067 Power Armor research grows and several prototypes are developed, many of which prove to be unworkable in the field. These prototypes pave the way for future advances in military, construction, and fusion technology.2066 Summer Adding further insult to the Chinese-American relations, the first crude fusion cell is unveiled, one of the results of the Power Armor project. Devices designed for the fusion cell begin to be manufactured. Incorporating fusion power into the general US infrastructure begins, but the process is too slow to supply power to the regions that need it. Nearly eleven years later, few sections of the United States were supplied with fusion power."
The first microfusion cell was revealed in 2066 as a potential solution to the energy crisis amid the Resource Wars.Pioneer Scout Badge Exam answers; Atomics Fan The technology developed rapidly, becoming the cornerstone of many civilian and military technologies. Although the process of incorporating nuclear fusion into the general U.S. infrastructure began in 2066, nuclear fusion proved to be difficult to scale to industrial-level power generation, and by 2077, only a few sections of the United States relied on fusion power for baseload generation.
Nuclear fusion relies on the capture of radioactive energy from microfusion reactions,Fallout and Fallout 2 item description: "{3900}{}{Micro Fusion Cell}""{3901}{}{A medium sized energy production unit. Self-contained fusion plant.}"(PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2)) rather than generating power by using heat energy to drive turbines, as with nuclear fission.Cambridge Polymer Labs terminal entries; Ericka's terminal, Thermal dissipation The hot fusion reaction thus created is distinct from sustainable nuclear reactions achieved at or near room temperatures (so-called cold fusion), eg. through electrochemical means. These were considered to be impossible to achieve, even by the Institute, one of the most-scientifically advanced factions known to exist, after two centuries of technological development.Institute Advanced Systems terminal entries; terminal, Cold Fusion 
The reason for the apparent impossibility is that Vault-Tec went to great lengths to bury cold fusion research pioneered just before the Great War, to ensure that the Resource Wars would remain their most profitable source of wealth.Fallout, Episode 6: The Trap
==Uses==
The discovery of nuclear fusion has revolutionized life and industry in the United States, slowly supplanting nuclear fission as the premiere power source. Its uses were many and varied, including:
* Power armor: The TX-28 micro-fusion pack developed by West Tek was capable of producing the power necessary to make power armor a practical weapon. Using fusion cores as reaction starters and sources of fuel, the fusion-powered power armor revolutionized modern warfare.See power armor for details.
* Laser weapons: The introduction of the microfusion cell, a medium-sized energy production unit and a self-contained fusion plant allowed for the creation of directed energy weapons. The MFC became the de facto industry standard and became a common choice for large energy weapons of all stripes, such as laser and plasma rifles.Energy weapons throughout the Fallout series use MFCs as ammunition. MFCs could also be turned into improvised satchel charges by removing safety catches.The Courier: ""ED-E: "[SUCCEEDED] "(ED-E's dialogue) Further innovation on the MFC came in the form of the recharger rifle, improved upon by the recharger pistol, utilizing a special microfusion breeding technology.
* Nuclear propulsion: After the introduction of fission-powered cars, fusion engines started to dominate the market. After the war, if the cars are damaged, their engines may explode.Some explosions in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas use the EXPL - FusionCarBatteryExplosion [00025C20] record.Paladin Danse: ""(Paladin Danse's dialogue) Batteries also became common, as fusion energy cells allowed them to be easily recharged on the go.Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets p.93-94: "Chrysalis Motors HighwaymanOne of the most useful items that you'll find is this shining example of American iron. The Chrysalis Motors Highwayman was once renowned for its high performance and durability. "Nothing can stop a Highwayman" was a phrase familiar to most drivers. The motto still holds true today. If you repair the car with a part that you'll find in Gecko, you can fuel it with standard energy cells and use it to move quickly across the world map, well equipped to outrun most enemies that you'll find.Towns in the post-apocalyptic world don't allow motor vehicles on their streets, citing something about aged fuel cells exploding. However, parking your Highwayman on the outskirts of town gives you access to a quick getaway as well as a secure storage spot for your goodies within the car's spacious trunk."
* Nuclear weapons: One of the oldest forms of practical nuclear fusion. One of the peculiarities of the United States' technological development is the fusion pulse charge, which can be used to turn working fusion reactors into thermonuclear weapons.Fusion pulse charge
* Portable power generation: The dominant form of power generation was portable fusion generators,Project Purity Personal Journal: Entry 2 such as the ones produced by GDA Fusion for household power generation.GDA Fusion This kind of technology was also developed after the Great War by certain wasteland organizations, like Rivet City.The Lone Wanderer: "What is this lab? What are you doing here?"Madison Li: "This is the Rivet City Science lab. It's taken many long years to put together, but we've done well for ourselves. Our work on portable fusion power and hydroponics are coming along quite nicely, if not quite according to schedule."(Madison Li's dialogue)
** Microfusion power units are also sometimes referred to as batteries, especially when installed in appliances. These have the same effect and can provide a lasting supply of energy and keep the device independent of the existing energy grid.Harpers Ferry terminal entries; Med-Tek Sympto-Matic terminal, Technical Notes 031177MTS
* Robotics: Fusion piles were used to power certain advanced robot types, such as the Robobrain and Assaultron combat robots.RobCo Sales & Service Center terminal entries; Chief Engineer's terminal, Maintenance Issue 09008777-ACRobCo Battlezone terminal entries; Control Room terminal, Inbox: 101177
* Fusion core: A standardized high-grade, long-term nuclear fusion battery used in a variety of military and civilian applications.The Sole Survivor: "I'll help if I can."Preston Garvey: ""Sturges: " "(Preston Garvey's and Sturges' dialogue)
* Large-scale energy generation: One of the major potential uses of fusion energy, the pre-War United States experienced some limited success with scaling the technology up to fusion generators, capable of powering entire buildings and providing backup power for Vaults.Citadel terminal entries; Vault-Tec terminal, Vault 87
** The Nuka-Cola Corporation paired multiple fusion reactors to meet the energy demands of Nuka-World, the corporation's flagship amusement park.Nuka-World loading screen hints: "Nuka-World's Power Plant contained multiple fusion reactors which were necessary to satisfy the needs of Nuka-World's parks and attractions."
** Efforts to expand fusion power generation to an industrial scale were underway. Mass Fusion was developing an experimental reactor before the Great War that could provide power at a large enough scale to replace conventional fission power plants. However, their work was never completed.|Paladin Danse: ""(Paladin Danse's dialogue) The key obstacle was the energy required to trigger the reaction and make it self-sustaining. Mass Fusion's chief achievement was the creation of the beryllium agitator, which would allow the fusion reaction to be jumpstarted much more easily.Spoils of War quest stage description: "In order to restart Liberty Prime's reactor core, I need to recover the 'Beryllium Agitator' from the ruins of Mass Fusion. I should board a vertibird and head over there as soon as possible."The Sole Survivor: "How can a 'Beryllium Agitator' start up his reactor?"Proctor Ingram: " "(Proctor Ingram's dialogue) It is possible to start the reactions conventionally, although doing so requires prohibitively large amounts of energy: Robert House would require the power output of the restored Hoover Dam to restart Lucky 38's reactor.Robert House: " Humble as it appears, the substation has immense strategic value, for it's there that you'll jumpstart the Lucky 38's dormant reactor. Gain access to the substation's control room and install this override module. Just so you know, there are NCR troops guarding the station."(Robert House's dialogue) Another issue, especially with systems used in non-standard roles like on the Prydwen, is cooling. A sustained reaction requires a constant supply of coolant, which can be problematic to obtain.The Sole Survivor: "Approve? Are you kidding me? That's an understatement."Proctor Ingram: " "(Proctor Ingram's dialogue)
* The military used fusion power to a great extent. The Appalachian Automated Launch System in particular utilizes a combination of onsite fusion reactors and megacells to provide power to its nuclear silos, with the most common types used being military-grade Class-VIII and Class-IV fusion reactors connected in a closed circuit, capable of serving as the silos' primary power source indefinitely.Missile silo terminal entries; Reactor control terminal, Power System OverviewMissile silo terminal entries; Reactor control terminal, Power System Repair Instructions Vault-Tec profited from its role as a strategic defense contractor, obtaining compact fusion power systems from the military for use in its facilities.Vault-Tec University terminal entries; Vault-Tec Mission Statement Terminal, Our Facility
==See also==
* Nuclear fission
==References==
Non-game
Category:Fallout setting
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