Energy

In physics, energy is a property of objects which can be transferred to other objects or converted into different forms, but cannot be created or destroyed. The ability of a system to perform work is a common description. But, it is difficult to give a comprehensive definition of energy because of its many forms. In SI units, energy is measured in joules, the energy transferred to an object by the mechanical work of moving it 1 metre against a force of 1 newton.

All of the many forms of energy are convertible to other kinds of energy, and obey the conservation of energy. Common energy forms include the kinetic energy of a moving object, the radiant energy carried by light, the potential energy stored by an object's position in a force field (gravitational, electric or magnetic), elastic energy stored by stretching solid objects, chemical energy released when a fuel burns, and the thermal energy due to an object's temperature.

Nuclear Fusion Reactors
Fusion power is the generation of energy by nuclear fusion. Fusion reactions are high energy reactions in which two lighter atomic nuclei fuse to form a heavier nucleus. When they combine, some of the mass is lost. This is converted into energy through E=mc^2. Fusion power is a research effort to try and harness this energy to power large scale cleaner energy. It is also a major part of plasma physics research.

Fusion reactors do not use the exact same fuels; Alliance Starships, for instance, use magnetic confined helium-3 fusion reactors, which emit high energy proton fluxes, and electricity is generated directly by induction, while deuterium reactors, such as the DEMO reactor launched in 2028, emit neutrons, which require use heat from the fusion reaction to operate a steam turbine that drives electrical generators, and while only the innards of the reactor become irradiated, deuterium fusion reactors use the same control methods needed as in a fission plant.