Nuclear fusion - status and prospects

Nuclear fusion promises to be a viable and inexhaustible source of energy. This source of energy when it is realized commercially, would have enormous impacts on our civilization. In nuclear fusion, light nuclei are fused together at very high temperature to form heavier nuclei releasing energy in the process. Fusion reactions can only take place if the nuclei are brought sufficiently close to one another. The most popular device based on MCF (Magnetically Confined Fusion) approach is a Tokamak and plasma current is an important factor in determining the confinement of the plasma. Z-pinch is the simplest magnetic system for creating and insulating fusion plasma. (A.B.)