Nuclear fusion is sometimes presented as the future of energy. An unlimited source that would address most of our problems, from global warming to energy access constraints in certain regions of the world. If its long-term potential is interesting and worth exploring, it is imperative to qualify our expectations.
There are two ways to harness nuclear energy. The first, mastered for more than fifty years, consists of breaking (fissioning) heavy and unstable uranium or plutonium nuclei. The second lies in the fusion of very light nuclei, isotopes of hydrogen: deuterium and tritium.
