Lost Scientist's 1938 Fusion Discovery Revived
A nearly forgotten scientist's work has been revived, shedding light on the history of nuclear fusion. Arthur Ruhlig, who studied at the University of Michigan in the 1930s alongside Emil Konopinski, made a significant discovery that has only recently been confirmed.
In 1938, Ruhlig claimed to have observed the fusion of deuterium and tritium (D-T fusion), a reaction now considered crucial for future fusion power plants. His findings were documented in a letter to the journal Physical Review but remained unconfirmed for decades. Recently, physicists Mark Chadwick and Mark Paris from Los Alamos National Laboratory reconstructed Ruhlig's experiment using modern measurement technology at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory. The modern experiment confirmed Ruhlig's discovery but found the reaction was less frequent than he assumed.
The rediscovery of Ruhlig's work shows that the basic knowledge for the most powerful fusion reaction was available before World War II. Despite this, significant technical challenges remain in achieving controlled, positive energy gain from nuclear fusion. Mark Chadwick highlights Arthur Ruhlig's important contribution to ongoing, vital fusion research.
The Los Alamos team's research, initiated to understand why Emil Konopinski proposed D-T fusion for the Manhattan Project in 1942, has brought Ruhlig's work back into the spotlight. While the path to practical fusion power remains challenging, the confirmation of Ruhlig's discovery offers valuable insights into the history and potential future of this promising energy source.
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