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The protons and neutrons in the core, or nucleus of atoms are held together by the so-called strong nuclear force. This is one of the fundamental forces of nature and is called strong because it can overcome the great electromagnetic repulsive force between the positively charged protons. By Einstein's mass-energy equivalency formula, E=MC2, this binding energy in the nucleus appears as extra mass in the nuclei of some atoms as compared to others. The key to releasing nuclear energy is to release this strong force by either splitting apart heavy nuclei, which have an abundance of binding energy, or by fusing light nuclei into slightly heavier ones. Iron, element 26 on the periodic table, has the least binding energy of any nucleus, thus it is the end product in any energy-releasing fission or fusion nuclear chain reaction. The cores of stars are largely composed of iron because of the process of nuclear fusion which gives them their energy.

In a fusion reaction, light isotopes of say hydrogen are combined by the application of external energy. They are forced together until they are within range of the strong nuclear force, at which point they combine. Any difference in mass between the end products and the reactants is released as energy either in the form of gamma rays, which are high energy photons of light,or as kinetic energy in any neutrons left over from the reaction. The main problem in extracting energy from a fusion reaction is to convert these hard radiations into usable work. The usual means of accomplishing this is to have a blanket of some heavy element to absorb the radiation and heat up, thus enabling steam power to turn some electrical generating equipment.
In a fusion bomb energy is released in a burst form for destructive purposes. The fusion reaction is derived from the energy supplied from a fission bomb which produces fast neutrons and x-rays. The fast neutrons split nuclei of an isotope of lithium, lithium 6, into tritium. The lithium is chemically in the form of lithium deuteride, which is a compound made from the lithium and deuterium from heavy water. The combination of deuterium and tritium is heated and compressed inside of a casing by the x-rays from the fission bomb, resulting in the release of more energy from the fusion reaction than was supplied by the trigger devise.
In magnetic confinement fusion generators, such as the Tokomak, there is a large donut-shaped vacuum chamber which is wound with heavy

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