How can the energy output of nuclear fusion be calculated? ?

Question

What are the equations used when determining the energy output of hydrogen fusion? Is it just a simple mass defect e=mc^2 equation?

Answer 1

Yeah, the energy comes from the annihilation of a positron for every atom of hydrogen doing the fusion.

Answer 2

There's a nuclear scientist named Dr. Bill Wattenburg that works a talk show over the weekends out on the west coast in San Francisco on KGO radio.  I think his time slot is 10:00 PM - 1:00AM PST.  He answers every ones questions, he's brilliant.

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http://www.kgoradio.com/

-  RESEARCH SCIENTIST AND ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY  FOUNDATION, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO.



- CONSULTANT, LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY. FORMERLY STAFF MEMBER, PHYSICS DIVISION, NUCLEAR WEAPONS DESIGN.



-  TALK SHOW HOST, "THE OPEN LINE TO THE WEST COAST" (SAT & SUN 10PM TO 1AM)  KGO RADIO AM-810, AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANY,  SAN FRANCISCO (SINCE 1972).

Answer 3

Yes, it's just e=mc².  You calculate the mass of the inputs, subtract the mass of the products, and multiply by c² to get the energy.

If you have energy coming off as e.g. neutrinos (a factor in fusion in stars), you have to subtract that because you won't be able to capture it in any useful form.