| inertial confinement fusion | <radiobiology> Approach to fusion where the plasma is imploded so quickly that the inertia of the converging particles is so high that many fuse before they disperse. This is the method used in a hydrogen bomb, ICF schemes for power production usually use small pellets of fuel in an attempt to make miniature h-bomb type explosions. Methods for imploding the pellet include bombardment from all sides with high-powered laser and particle beams, and of course implosion in a fission bomb. Parts of ICF fusion research remain classified due to their military implications and applications, though much ICF research was recently declassified. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| oncogene proteins, fusion | The translation products of the fusion between an oncogene and another gene. The latter may be of viral or cellular origin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| thermonuclear fusion | <radiobiology> Fusion achieved by heating the fuel into the plasma state to the point where ions have sufficient energy to fuse. Also used to characterise fusion between thermal ions as opposed to fusion involving injected beam ions. (09 Oct 1997) |
| tokamak fusion test reactor | <radiobiology> Large tokamak at Princeton, first machine to use 50-50 mix of D-T fuel, current world's record holder in fusion energy production. Largest tokamak in the United States. (09 Oct 1997) |
| enthalpy of fusion | <chemistry> The enthalpy change that occurs to melt a solid at its melting point. Synonym: heat of fusion. (09 Jan 1998) |
| flicker fusion | The point or frequency at which all flicker of an intermittent light stimulus disappears. (12 Dec 1998) |
| flicker fusion frequency technique | A technique of perimetry using the criterion of critical fusion frequency. Synonym: flicker fusion frequency technique. (05 Mar 2000) |
| laser fusion | <radiobiology> Form of inertial confinement fusion where laser beams are used to compress and heat the fuel pellet. (09 Oct 1997) |
| fusion | <radiobiology> A nuclear reaction in which light atomic nuclei combine to form heavier nuclei, typically accompanied by the release of energy. (See also Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion) (09 Oct 1997) |
| fusion area | The area in and about the macula retinae in which stimulation of noncorresponding retinal points nevertheless results in stereoscopic vision. Synonym: fusion area. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fusion beat | A beat triggered by more than a single electrical impulse, when the wave fronts coincide to act together on a single final pathway of activity; in the electrocardiogram, the atrial or ventricular complex when either atria or ventricles are activated jointly by two simultaneous or nearly simultaneous invading impulses. Synonym: combination beat, mixed beat, summation beat. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fusion energy | <chemistry, radiobiology> The binding energy of a nucleus is the minimum energy required to dissociate it into its component neutrons and protons. Neutron or proton binding energies are those required to remove a neutron or proton, respectively, from a nucleus. Electron binding energy is that required to remove an electron from an atom or a molecule. (16 Dec 1997) |
| fusion-fission hybrid | <radiobiology> Proposed nuclear reactor relying on both fusion and fission reactions. A central fusion chamber would produce neutrons to induce fission in a surrounding blanket of fissionable material. The neutron source could also be used to convert other materials into additional fissile fuels (breeder hybrid). Safer than a plain fission reactor because the fission fuel relies on the fusion neutrons, and therefore cannot achieve criticality. On the other hand, hybrids are more complex because of the fusion power core, and still generate fission's radioactive byproducts. But a fusion-fission hybrid could be more economical and have less stringent technical requirements than a pure fusion reactor. (05 Jan 1998) |
| fusion gene | <molecular biology> A hybrid gene created by joining portions of two different genes (to produce a new protein) or by joining a gene to a different promoter (to alter or regulate gene transcription). (05 Jan 1998) |
| fusion-inferred threshold test | Employment of the phenomenon of cerebral fusion of binaural sounds to substitute for conventional masking in hearing testing. Synonym: FIT test. (05 Mar 2000) |