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 powered by deuterium-deuterium reactions 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.

The UNSC has also mastered fusion reactor technology on a remarkably small scale, as demonstrated 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.

Trivia

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: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
• Halo: Combat Evolved
  • Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
• Halo: The Flood
• Halo: First Strike
• Halo 2 (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
• Halo: Contact Harvest