In these muclear reactions, atomic nuclei of low atomic number (Z) like HYDROGEN (Z=1), join together to form heavier nuclei. The nuclear fusion generates enormous amounts of energy given that the mass of the resulting nuclei is lower that that of the original ones; the difference in mass turns into energy according to the Einstein equation E = mc^2.

These reactions occur at dizaines of millions of degrees, with atoms colliding at very high speed, to win the repulsive energy among the positive H nuclei (protons) and happen spontaneously within STARS, giving them all their enormous radiating energy.
The most common reaction is that of 4 H nuclei joining in various steps to give a Helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons).

To date, scientists reached in reproducing this process, that doesn't create radioactive wastes, as instead, nuclear fission reactions do, but they could reproduce it only in an uncontrollable way, with the hydrogen atomic bomb, or for very short periods in particular reactors, still experimental.
Furthermore, in those studies, not hydrogen is used, but its isotopes DEUTERIUM (1 proton and 1 neutron) and TRITIUM (1 proton and 2 neutrons, unstable).
The reactors materials mustn't be in contact with the particles that, at the very high temperatures needed form the so-called PLASMA, because no material would resist in these conditions; so, the particles must be CONFINED within a circle (torus) by means of electromagnetic fields, given that they're charged particles and follow the Lorentz force.
This kind of reactor is called TOKAMAK and the heating of the plasma is made with very intense electric currents or bombarding it with powerful lasers.
Scientists say that it would be necessary at least 50 years to develop the first reactor available to produce energy at competitive costs, this because of the wrong and irresponsible choice (mainly political) of investing all in the nuclear fission reactors, that create serious wastes problems, impossible to be solved.

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