Mayonaise's Unique Role in Nuclear Fusion Research

Mayonnaise, a staple condiment, has an intriguing application in nuclear fusion experiments, reports Science News. The texture of mayo invites both love and loathing, yet it serves a unique purpose in physics.

Mechanical engineer Arindam Banerjee from Lehigh University and colleagues explore how materials behave, similar to both mayonnaise and fusion experiments. The key lies in mayonnaise's behavior, which straddles the line between elastic and plastic characteristics.

When jiggled gently, mayonnaise bounces back to its original shape, showing elastic behavior. However, a forceful fling shifts it into a plastic state, changing its shape permanently.

This elastic-to-plastic shift is also relevant in nuclear fusion experimentation. In those contexts, lasers bombard a metal capsule filled with fuel, generating extreme temperatures and pressures. These conditions lead to the fusing of atomic nuclei, releasing significant energy. The ultimate goal is to harness nuclear fusion for sustainable power.

Studying material behavior in fusion’s extreme conditions remains challenging. Recently, Banerjee’s team examined how mayonnaise interacts with air when whirled in a spinning wheel. The spinning created centrifugal force, driving the mayonnaise into the gas.

After halting the wheel, the researchers noted whether the mayo returned to its original form, altered shape, or broke apart. These observations helped define the elastic versus plastic boundaries, as published in the May issue of Physical Review E.

The mayonnaise-and-air combination mirrors the molten metal dynamics inside a fusion fuel capsule, complete with gas content. While the molten capsule retains some solid-like qualities and does not flow, it can fracture under sufficient force. If plasticity occurs in the metal before the fusion process, vital gas could escape, derailing fusion attempts.

However, using mayo presents a challenge. Arriving at the supermarket with 48 containers of mayonnaise raises eyebrows. "We often get many questions at grocery stores," Banerjee remarks about their large mayo purchases, "wondering why we are buying that much."

Earlier, SSP reported that a worlds fastest microscope captures electron motion.