ABSTRACT
The Sun is a huge nuclear fusion reactor that converts hydrogen to helium. The overall fusion reaction, involving four protons, 1H, and two electrons, leads to the formation of one nucleus of helium, 4He, two neutrinos, ν, and six gamma ray photons, γ. The released large amount of energy is carried mostly by gamma rays:
41H + 2e → 4He + 2υ + 6γ + 26.7MeV (2.1)
The fusion energy provided by the Sun has been supporting life on Earth for billions of years. The solar energy received by Earth is approximately 1.5 × 1018 kWh p.a., which is 3 × 104 times more than all present global energy needs.
