What makes the fusion system fail again and again?

"As scientists push toward the first commercial fusion power plant, researchers from the University of Surrey have achieved a major breakthrough in understanding how welded metal joints behave under the intense heat and stress found inside fusion reactors. Their novel microscopic technique reveals internal weaknesses that could compromise safety and longevity, paving the way for smarter designs, more resilient materials, and faster development of clean fusion energy systems. Credit: SciTechDaily.com" (ScitechDaily, Fusion Breakthrough: Engineers Uncover Hidden Reactor Weaknesses)

What makes the fusion system fail again and again? Fusion is a well-known way to create clean energy. Stars use fusion. And we know that in the same way, we must only mimic stars to make the fusion reactor that produces more energy than we pump into it. But somehow, the high-temperature plasma is the thing. That is a problem. 

The plasma is a homogenous ionized gas that the magnetic systems push together and then laser systems just shoot those ions together. In the fusion system on Earth, the system must compensate for pressure by rising temperature. The magnets must keep the plasma ring away from the walls of the reactor. If that high-energy plasma touches the reactor's wall it makes a hole in it immediately. 

By using symmetry theory instead of the slower and less reliable conventional methods, researchers have created a shortcut that enables the design of leak-proof magnetic systems 10 times faster.

There are mainly two types of fusion reactors. 

A) Tokamak-type reactors. There a plasma ring orbits in the donut-shaped accelerator. Magnets keep the plasma away from the walls.

B) The ball-shaped reactors like the National Ignition Facility. Those systems mimic stars. 

"Researchers cracked a 70-year-old fusion problem, allowing faster, more accurate reactor designs that could finally make fusion energy viable. Credit: SciTechDaily.com" (ScitechDaily, Scientists Crack 70-Year Fusion Puzzle, Paving Way for Clean Energy)

Scientists have developed a powerful new technique to overcome a major obstacle in nuclear fusion energy: the ability to accurately contain high-energy particles within fusion reactors." (ScitechDaily, Scientists Crack 70-Year Fusion Puzzle, Paving Way for Clean Energy)

The main problem with fusion is the ignition. When fusion starts that flash breaks the plasma. The answer can be symmetrical ignition where laser-accelerated ions will shoot to anion plasma. Or oppositely if the main plasma structure is ion the system sprays anions. The ignition must happen symmetrically at the shell of the plasma. 

And there must be some kind of thermal pump that denies the standing wave from the plasma structure. If we think that the system that we use for energy production is the Tokamak the system can mimic a neutron star or black hole. The plasma ring orbits the magnet and then anions will spay over the ion ring. The energy or particle beam makes energy travel to the middle of the system. And it denies the standing wave formation. By transporting it in the wanted direction. 

The image portrays a black hole and its material disk. But it also could be the model of how plasma orbits the magnetic center in the Tokamak reactor. 

The system might look a little bit like this. The laser-, or, particle beam, or thermal pump transports energy out from the system precisely into the desired direction. The system sends an anion spray over the ion plasma ring. 

When a fusion reactor ignites plasma sends so much energy that magnets cannot control it. So, if we want to know why stars don't detonate when the fusion starts that thing can open the road to the fusion reactors. Stars are also plasma balls. There is something that presses them together when the fusion starts. That thing is gravity, but how can we make the thing, that replaces gravity center on Earth? 

The answer can be the energy transporter the cooler that makes the low-energy point in the middle of the fusion reactor. That makes energy flow to the middle of the system. If the system is a ball-shaped fusion reactor the system can create an anion plasma ball. And then shoot that plasma ball symmetrically using high-energy ions or anions.  

That thing can cause a situation in the fusion reaction that starts at the plasma ball shell. There can be a laser beam. That transports energy out from the center of that plasma ball. That laser or particle beam denies the standing waves from the plasma. But the problem is how to make that thing in Tokamak.

 One version is to make a system that mimics neutron stars and black holes. The plasma ring orbits an extremely strong magnet. Then the system sends the ion or anion spray to that plasma ring. That allows the system to ignite plasma at the outer side of the plasma ring. The ignition must begin symmetrically at the plasma ring. The energy (or particle) beam in the middle of the system, helps to aim the energy flow to the middle of the Tokamak reactor. That kind of system can someday make commercial fusion systems possible. 

https://scitechdaily.com/fusion-breakthrough-engineers-uncover-hidden-reactor-weaknesses/

https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-crack-70-year-fusion-puzzle-paving-way-for-clean-energy/

The new thermal-resistant material opens new paths to military and civil systems.

"Colorized scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) image showing a Cu3Li precipitate in the Cu-Ta-Li alloy. The orange-colored features are primarily Cu atoms in the alloy matrix, while the blue and yellow features correspond to the Cu3Li precipitate. The yellow represents Ta atoms in the atomic bilayer complexion, and the blue features represent Li atoms in the core of the Cu3Li precipitate. Credit: Lehigh University" (ScitechDaily, Defying Thermal Limits: Scientists Create a New, Ultra-Strong, Heat-Resistant Material)

The 2D lattice material called Cu-Ta-Li (Copper, Tallium, Lithium) is one of the newest and most promising materials for lightweight armor. That material itself has good thermal resistance. And strength against punches. The metal structure is very strong. All types of 2D materials have different qualities. There are two base types of 2D lattice materials. 

1) Homogenous 2D materials like graphene. Those material layers are formed by only one type of atom. That makes those materials conduct energy over them very effectively. 

In materials like graphene, the structure can form standing waves in the net. But those waves travel away from the net. 

2) Heterogeneous 2D materials. They are chemical compounds that form a 2D lattice. In those materials, energy can form standing waves. But it has pockets where it can go. 

2D lattice materials like graphene are so promising. Because they are strong. Energy impulses travel over that lattice faster than in 3D materials. When energy impacts the 3D material atoms move back and forth like balls. That movement breaks the 3D structure. In 2D material energy cannot move vertically. Or if it travels between two layers it travels to another entirety. 

"Graphene is an atomic-scale honeycomb structure made of carbon atoms. (Wikipedia, Graphene)

The thing that breaks material is the fast changes in the energy levels. When something heats graphene very much. And then decreases its temperature those atoms deliver their extra energy. That forms the standing waves in the graphene rings. The energy waves that reflect from those standing waves destroy the structure. 

If there is some kind of space like other atoms that can pull energy into them. That decreases those standing wave's power. When we think of hybrid- or heterogenic 2D materials. The position or type of those other atoms is not the same. 

There can be another atom layer like a metal lattice between graphene layers. Or there can be another atom ring in the carbon ring whose purpose is to pull energy impulses into it. There can be things like DNA nano springs or metal pillars that keep those structures away from each other. 

Those materials share energy over the layer to larger areas than in regular 3D materials. The energy travels away from the lattice faster than in 3D materials. 

There is only a horizontal layer. That can keep energy in it. 

The heat resistance depends on the material's ability to conduct energy out from it. Without causing standing waves.

Those waves can push atoms in the structure away. And break it. One way to make energy travel away from the layer is just decrease its outer edge temperature. That makes energy to travel from the center to the edge. Heat travels over the lattice but not between lattices. 

That means that the 2D materials must keep their 2D form so that their quality stands. The layers or lattices must be separated and that means there must be pillars or some nano springs that keep those layers away. And minimize energy conduction between those atom lattices. 

The 2D lattice can also turn more resistant against heat if small-size laser rays are shot through that network's holes. Nanotechnical lasers shoot beams through the holes in carbon or metal molecules. And that system can act as a thermal pump. Another way is to inject things like Bose-Einstein condensate into the 2D materials. When material temperature rises too high, ultra-cold powder conducts energy into it. That increases the material's resistance against temperature. 

https://scitechdaily.com/defying-thermal-limits-scientists-create-a-new-ultra-strong-heat-resistant-material/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene#

The supersonic flight turns metal bonds weaker.

Above: North American X-15 in wind tunnel test. 

We know that friction weakens materials. Things like metal structures are vulnerable to heat. The reason for that is that metal structures are not solid and homogenous structures. The friction forms heat that destroys the metal structures. In the second image (Image 2),  we can see the aluminum crystalline structure. We can see that those are not in perfect symmetry. But the structure looks a little bit like a diamond (Image 4). That atomic structure makes aluminum very suitable for aviation. The problem is that the real bonds that are marked as grey tubes don't follow the route of the theoretical bonds that are marked by a black dash. If aluminum atoms form the boxes or structures like carbon in a diamond. That makes it stronger. 

Image 2. Crystalline structure of aluminum. 

However the structure can be more effective if those aluminum atoms can form a perfect box structure that continues homogenously over the entire trunk. Things like nanotubes can transport energy out of the structure. The best solution for nanotubes is that they are horizontally through the metal structure. If there are no connection points. That makes energy travel better through those tubes. 

The image 3 shows the problem of energy in the 3D surfaces. We can see that there are potholes in that structure. And that causes energy asymmetry in this lattice. 

The potholes and hills in structure cause differences in energy levels. Make energy travel to the lower energy points. And that forms standing waves that push atoms away. 

There are two ways to make the material strong. One is nanotubes and one is to make metal extremely pure. 

The structure is like boxes. And that allows the metal to dump energy into those boxes. That energy forms a standing wave that breaks the structure sooner or later. The thing that breaks the structure is the reflecting wave from the metal crystal. When we compare that structure with the diamond's carbon structure.

(Image 3) The polarization in lattice. The polarization under laser ray. Tells about the energy levels in the lattice. 

 We can see that the diamond's dodecahedron structure (Image 3)allows energy to travel out from the structure more easily than from the metal. If the energy level in the top carbon is lower than the bottom carbon. That increases the energy flow through a diamond. 

There are small metal crystals and bites of dross in the metal structure. When heat transfers to those structures. It causes standing waves into the layers. When energy travels into those small crystals. They store that energy inside them. Sooner or later. Energy levels in those metal structures turn higher than in the environment. That energy destroys the material structures. 

(Image 4) Diamond crystalline structure. 

We know that. To keep material in its form. There must be someplace. There the material can put that energy. The reason why carbon fiber stands better at supersonic speed is that it is fiber. In supersonic speed the air pressure pushes carbon fiber against the wing. If that fiber goes over the wing it can transport more energy to air. 

The next question is where that energy dump can put that energy. One answer can be the nanodiamonds. That can transport energy out from the metal. Another answer to the heat problem can be nanotubes that can conduct energy out of the structure. The system works that way so that there is a lower energy area behind the aircraft. 

The nanotubes can transport energy out from metal structures if they continue over the entire airplane's body. Things like electron beams can also operate as the thermal pump that transports energy out from the structure. 

 https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/supersonic-speed-weakens-metal-bonds-strength-peaks-at-1060-m-s-study-finds?group=test_b