I have read articles about quantitative knowledge of particle physics, such as energies, cross sections and particle lifetimes, gained from work at the LHC and other accelerators. Is such quantitative knowledge of the Standard Model currently useful or necessary in the development of controlled fusion?
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$\begingroup$ Why would you think otherwise? $\endgroup$– user226006Commented Mar 22, 2019 at 20:21
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$\begingroup$ You can never know what may be useful and what not for a final discovery $\endgroup$– Agnius VasiliauskasCommented Mar 22, 2019 at 20:24
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$\begingroup$ Agnius Vasiliauskas, I mean at the present time, so far. $\endgroup$– Ralph DratmanCommented Mar 22, 2019 at 22:15
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No. The nuclear physics of fusion (and fission) is well known.
Note the LHC collision energy is 13 TeV, or
$$E = 2 \,\mu {\rm J} = kT \rightarrow T = 1.7 \times 10^{12}\,{\rm K}$$
which is far above fusion temperatures (100 million K).
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$\begingroup$ So we just need temperatures 3 or 4 orders of magnitude higher than currently aimed for if we want to approach LHC collision-energy range. If that were somehow possible, might particle physics offer anything to facilitate energy production? Or could we perhaps aim a high-energy particle beam into the fusion chamber to turbocharge some slow process? $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 23, 2019 at 3:14
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$\begingroup$ @RalphDratman An LHC proton striking a U235 nucleus and sticking has a Lorentz factor $\gamma = E/m \approx \frac 1 2 13TeV/236GeV \approx 27,000$, which is ultra-relativistic. Any thing it hits leaves the power station at near the speed of light, taking all that energy with it. $\endgroup$– JEBCommented Mar 25, 2019 at 2:44
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$\begingroup$ JEB I very much appreciate your straightforward, easy-to-follow answers. Cheers! $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 26, 2019 at 3:04