Abstract: Novel Journal of Applied Sciences Research

Abstract:
The Lawson Criterion is a figure of merit used in nuclear fusion research, which compares the rate of nuclear energy being generated in the reactor to the rate of energy loss from the reactor. Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR) are nuclear reactions that take place at lower energies and temperature ambient conditions. Conversely, hot fusion is a type of nuclear fusion reaction that takes place at several hundreds of millions of degrees Kelvin. These hot temperatures are used to overcome the electrical repulsion of the Coulomb barrier between two charged nuclei. In both cases, LENR or hot fusion, if the rate of energy being released by the nuclear reactions is greater than the rate of energy loss from the reactor, then the reactor is said to be “self-sustaining”. This self-sustaining reaction is the goal of both LENR and hot fusion. This paper examines the ability of an LENR reactor to achieve a self-sustaining condition, without the extreme high temperatures that are used by hot fusion. Comparisons between LENR and hot fusion are also made, where appropriate.