All isotopes of hydrogen have one proton, deuterium has one neutron and tritium has two neutrons, so their ion masses are heavier than protium, the isotope of hydrogen with no neutrons. When deuterium and tritium fuse, they create a helium nucleus, which has two protons and two neutrons. The reaction releases an energetic neutron.
Deuterium and tritium are isotopes of hydrogen. They reaches fusion conditions at lower temperatures compared to other elements and releases more energy than other fusion reactions.
The current best bet for fusion reactors is deuterium-tritium fuel that is relatively easy to produce.
DataHead127 t1_iyv93m5 wrote
Reply to Why not use hydrogen and deuterium in fusion reaction rather than tritium and deuterium? by Curious_user4445
All isotopes of hydrogen have one proton, deuterium has one neutron and tritium has two neutrons, so their ion masses are heavier than protium, the isotope of hydrogen with no neutrons. When deuterium and tritium fuse, they create a helium nucleus, which has two protons and two neutrons. The reaction releases an energetic neutron. Deuterium and tritium are isotopes of hydrogen. They reaches fusion conditions at lower temperatures compared to other elements and releases more energy than other fusion reactions. The current best bet for fusion reactors is deuterium-tritium fuel that is relatively easy to produce.