Fusion reactor

A fusion reactor is a type of nuclear power plant that uses nuclear fusion for power generation.

Usage
The UNSC utilizes nuclear fusion reactors to a great degree, from spacecraft to groundside bases. Fusion reactors are used as a power source on United Nations Space Command warships. The reactor makes up the main component of a ship's primary propulsion system, known as a fusion drive, which uses vectored drive exhaust to provide thrust. UNSC fusion reactors are known to use the hydrogen isotope deuterium as fuel.

The UNSC has also mastered fusion reactor technology on a remarkably small scale, as demonstred by the miniature fusion plants mounted on the MJOLNIR armor. Despite their size, these reactors are extremely efficient; the microfusion plant of the MJOLNIR Mark IV was capable of providing power for 15 years of continuous operation.

The Covenant employ a more advanced type of fusion power plant, known as the pinch fusion reactor, to power their starships and other machines.

Real world
Real-world fusion reactors currently require more power than they release, so are not yet an economical means of electricity generation. Promising approaches include doughnut-shaped tokamaks, polywells and laser-driven inertial confinement fusion.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Combat Evolved
 * Halo 2
 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo: Contact Harvest