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.[1][2]
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.[3] 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.[4]
The Covenant employ a more advanced type of fusion power plant, known as the pinch fusion reactor, to power their starships and other machines.[5]
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: Combat Evolved
- Halo 2 (Mentioned only)
- Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance)
- Halo: The Flood
- Halo: First Strike
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
- Halo: Contact Harvest