Fusion

**Fusion** or [|synthesis], it refers to the connection of two or more distinct things/bodies: **Fusion power** is the [|power] generated by [|nuclear fusion] processes. In fusion reactions two light [|atomic nuclei] fuse together to form a heavier nucleus (in contrast with [|fission power] ). In doing so they release a comparatively large amount of energy arising from the [|binding energy] due to the [|strong nuclear force] which is manifested as an increase in [|temperature] of the reactants. Fusion power is a primary area of research in [|plasma physics]. The term is commonly used to refer to potential commercial production of net usable power from a fusion source, similar to the usage of the term " [|steam power] ." The leading designs for controlled fusion research use [|magnetic] ( [|tokamak] design) or [|inertial] ( [|laser] ) confinement of a [|plasma], with [|heat] from the fusion reactions used to operate a [|steam turbine] which in turn drives [|electrical generators] , similar to the process used in [|fossil fuel] and [|nuclear fission] [|power stations]. As of July 2010, the largest experiment by means of magnetic confinement has been the [|Joint European Torus] (JET). In 1997, JET produced a peak of 16.1 [|megawatts] (21,600 [|hp] ) of fusion power (65% of input power), with fusion power of over 10 MW (13,000 hp) sustained for over 0.5 sec. Its successor, [|ITER], was officially announced as part of a seven-country consortium. [|[1]] ITER is designed to produce ten times more fusion power than the power put into the [|plasma]. ITER is currently under construction in [|Cadarache], France. Inertial (laser) confinement, which was for a time seen as more difficult or infeasible, has generally seen less development effort than magnetic approaches. However, this approach made a comeback following further innovations, and is being developed at both the [|United States] [|National Ignition Facility] as well as the planned [|European Union] [|High Power laser Energy Research] (HiPER) facility. NIF reached initial operational status in 2010 and has been in the process of increasing the power and energy of its "shots". Fusion ignition tests are to follow. [|[2]] Fusion powered electricity generation was initially believed to be readily achievable, as fission power had been. However, the extreme requirements for continuous reactions and [|plasma containment] led to projections being extended by several decades. In 2010, more than 60 years after the first attempts, commercial power production is still believed to be unlikely before 2050.
 *  [|Cell fusion], an event in the maturation of cells
 *  [|Fusion cuisine], the combination of elements of various culinary traditions
 *  [|Fusion (linguistics)], a type of synthetic language
 *  [|Fusion power], power generation using controlled nuclear fusion reactions
 *  [|Gene fusion], a genetic event and molecular biology technique
 *  [|Image fusion], the process of combining relevant information from two or more images into a single image.
 *  [|Information fusion], the merging of information from disparate sources
 *  [|Jazz fusion], music combining jazz with other genres
 *  [|Melting] (or fusion), a chemistry term for a solid undergoing a phase change into a liquid
 *  [|Nuclear fusion], the process by which multiple nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> [|Spinal fusion], a surgical technique used to combine two or more vertebrae
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> [|Tooth fusion], the joining of two teeth
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Cell fusion ** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">is an important <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">[|cellular process] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">that occurs during <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">[|differentiation] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">of muscle, bone and <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">[|trophoblast] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">cells, during __<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #faa700; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">[|embryogenesis] __<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">, and during <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">[|morphogenesis] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">[|[1]] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Cell fusion is a necessary event in the maturation of cells so that they maintain their specific functions throughout <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">[|growth] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"> Sir George Thomson