Mayonnaise Inspires Potential Breakthrough in Nuclear Fusion Technology

“There’s a lot of steps in between that it would take to get to electricity… To create a steady flow of fusion power would require the lasers to zap a tiny target ‘many times a minute or even many times a second.'” – Carolyn Kuranz, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Michigan, on the significant engineering challenges that remain before nuclear fusion can be a viable source of electricity​ (KRVS).

In a surprising twist, mayonnaise—a staple of kitchens around the world—may hold the key to advancing nuclear fusion technology. A recent study, published in May in the journal Physical Review E, explores how the behavior of mayonnaise under stress could provide crucial insights into the conditions necessary for nuclear fusion reactors to function more efficiently.

Nuclear fusion, the process that powers stars, holds the promise of nearly limitless clean energy. However, replicating the extreme conditions found at the heart of stars—where fusion occurs at temperatures of 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius)—is a daunting challenge. On Earth, achieving fusion requires temperatures ten times hotter than the sun, as well as conditions that can overcome the natural repulsion between hydrogen atoms.

Researchers Are Using Mayonnaise to Improve Nuclear Fusion Experiments https://t.co/w1KruL0eTc

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Physicists use various methods to reach these mind-boggling temperatures, one of which is known as inertial confinement. This process involves freezing tiny pellets of hydrogen isotopes within metal capsules and then blasting them with powerful lasers. The goal is to heat the gas inside the capsules to such an extreme that it turns into plasma, the state of matter where nuclear fusion can occur. However, the intense heat often causes the metal capsules to become unstable and explode before fusion can take place, presenting a significant obstacle to sustainable fusion reactions.

Enter the humble mayonnaise. Researchers led by Arindam Banerjee, a mechanical engineer at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, discovered that the behavior of mayonnaise under certain conditions can mimic the behavior of molten metal in a fusion reactor. Mayonnaise, like molten metal, can exhibit elastic properties (bouncing back when pressure is applied), plastic properties (not bouncing back), and flowing properties under different stress conditions.

In their experiment, Banerjee’s team placed mayonnaise in a machine designed to simulate the conditions within a nuclear fusion reactor. They accelerated the mayonnaise until it began to flow, carefully observing the transition between its elastic, plastic, and flowing states. The researchers found that understanding these transitions could provide critical insights into how to delay or even suppress the instability that causes the metal capsules in fusion reactors to explode.

The study’s findings are promising, suggesting that by controlling these transitions, it may be possible to improve the energy yield of fusion reactions and make the process more stable. However, while the behavior of mayonnaise provides a useful analogy, translating these findings to the ultrahot, high-pressure environment of a nuclear fusion reactor remains a significant challenge.

#FPExplained: THIS creamy condiment is helping scientists to better understand and potentially overcome some of the critical challenges in nuclear fusion research.

Can mayonnaise hold the key to unlocking nuclear fusion? https://t.co/IYfZY98AOB

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Nonetheless, this unexpected connection between a common kitchen condiment and one of the most complex scientific endeavors of our time highlights the innovative thinking required to solve the world’s energy problems. As researchers continue to explore new approaches and draw inspiration from unexpected sources, the dream of harnessing nuclear fusion for clean, limitless energy may one day become a reality.

Quotes

• “We are ambitiously implementing our US Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy… The development of fusion energy as a clean, safe, abundant energy source has become a global race, and the US will stay in the lead.” – David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, emphasizing the aggressive push towards commercializing fusion energy, including a $180 million funding boost to support research and development​ (World Nuclear News).
• “In the face of continued challenges in raising capital for ‘deep-tech’ ventures, the additional funding underscores confidence in fusion technology’s potential to revolutionize the global energy landscape on a timescale that is relevant to investors.” – Andrew Holland, CEO of the Fusion Industry Association, reflecting on the rapid growth in fusion funding, with over $900 million invested in the past year​ (World Nuclear News).

Key Points:

i. Mayonnaise’s Behavior Provides Insights: Researchers have discovered that the stress responses of mayonnaise can help model conditions inside nuclear fusion reactors.

ii. Nuclear Fusion’s Challenge: Achieving nuclear fusion on Earth requires extreme conditions, including temperatures ten times hotter than the sun and stable environments for hydrogen fusion.

iii. Inertial Confinement Method: The study focuses on inertial confinement, where hydrogen isotopes are heated to extreme temperatures within metal capsules, often leading to instability and explosion.

iv. Experimental Findings: By studying mayonnaise under stress, researchers identified transitions between elastic, plastic, and flowing states, offering clues on how to delay or prevent instability in fusion reactors.

v. Future Implications: While translating these findings to nuclear fusion reactors is complex, the study underscores the potential of innovative approaches in advancing fusion technology.

TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News