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→High Temperature Fusion: self-sustaining isn't a direct consequence of achieving hot fusion. On earth,hot fusion isn't self-sustaining, generally.
== High Temperature Fusion ==
== High Temperature Fusion ==
The approach that has generally been taken is to heat the gaseous deuterium to such a high temperature that it becomes a [[plasma]] and that the nuclei have sufficient [[kinetic energy]] so that some of them can overcome their repulsion and collide. Once this is achieved then the reaction becomes self-sustaining, with sufficient energy released to maintain the high temperature and provide a surplus of useful energy.
The approach that has generally been taken is to heat the gaseous deuterium to such a high temperature that it becomes a [[plasma]] and that the nuclei have sufficient [[kinetic energy]] so that some of them can overcome their repulsion and collide.
However, the main problem of this approach is the containment of the high energy plasma. This may be achievable using precisely shaped [[magnetic field|magnetic fields]], but to date the longest period of stable fusion under this mechanism has been around half a second <ref>http://www.edouardstenger.com/2009/02/03/the-end-of-nuclear-waste/</ref>.
However, the main problem of this approach is the containment of the high energy plasma. This may be achievable using precisely shaped [[magnetic field|magnetic fields]], but to date the longest period of stable fusion under this mechanism has been around half a second <ref>http://www.edouardstenger.com/2009/02/03/the-end-of-nuclear-waste/</ref>.