Scientists at Lehigh University are using an unexpected tool—mayonnaise—to help unravel the mysteries of nuclear fusion, a potential source of limitless and clean energy.
This research is a continuation of their previous work, published in 2019, where they also used mayonnaise to study the physics behind fusion.
Why mayonnaise?
Mayonnaise behaves like a solid but starts to flow when subjected to pressure, mimicking the behavior of plasma, which is crucial in nuclear fusion.
“We use mayonnaise because it behaves like a solid, but when subjected to a pressure gradient, it starts to flow,” explains Arindam Banerjee, a professor at Lehigh University.
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun, could provide limitless energy if replicated on Earth. However, achieving the extreme conditions necessary for fusion—millions of degrees and immense pressure—is incredibly challenging.
One approach, called inertial confinement fusion (ICF), involves compressing and heating tiny hydrogen-filled capsules to create plasma, the state of matter that can generate energy.
A significant challenge in ICF is the formation of hydrodynamic instabilities, particularly Rayleigh-Taylor instability, which occurs when materials of different densities are subjected to opposing pressure and density gradients.
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This instability can reduce the energy yield from fusion reactions.
To study these instabilities in a controlled environment, Banerjee’s team used mayonnaise in their experiments.
The team utilized a unique rotating wheel facility to simulate the flow conditions of plasma and observe how mayonnaise behaves under stress.
This helped them understand the transition between different phases, such as the elastic phase, where the material returns to its original shape after stress is removed, and the plastic phase, where instability begins.
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Promising results for fusion design
The team’s findings could be crucial in designing fusion capsules that are more stable, potentially preventing the instabilities that currently hinder the efficiency of fusion reactions.
By maximizing elastic recovery, researchers hope to delay or completely suppress these instabilities.
Ultimately, Banerjee and his team are contributing to a global effort to make fusion energy a reality.
“We’re another cog in this giant wheel of researchers,” says Banerjee, “and we’re all working towards making inertial fusion cheaper and therefore, attainable.”
(With inputs from Science Daily)
