Pinch fusion reactor: Difference between revisions

The reactors use focused [[artificial gravity]] generators to initiate and sustain a fusion reaction, replicating the conditions inside the core of stars. This process generates an enormous amount of power and [[plasma]].<ref name="wf61"/><ref name="wf91">''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 91</ref> Through [[deuterium]]-[[tritium]] fusion, the plasma that is generated is compressed and heated by [[Wikipedia:Pinch (plasma physics)|pinched]] magnetic fields.<ref name="fs"/> Non-essential ship systems may be rendered inert or disconnected to divert the output of the reactors entirely to specific systems, such as armaments or propulsion.<ref>''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 71</ref> The reactors are surprisingly primitive for the Covenant,<ref name="fs"/> and are quite volatile.<ref name="wf91"/> If their cooling systems become disabled or their maximum heat loads are exceeded, they can often fail explosively<ref name="fs305">''Halo: First Strike'', p. 305 (2003)</ref>—the reactors can detonate with the power of a small [[supernova]] should containment efforts fail.<ref name="wf61"/> They provide 12 terawatts per reactor.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 305''</ref>