---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9302"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "9302"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/9302"
units:
  - "Chapter 101 — Magnetic Fusion Energy Engineering"
---

# §9302. Definitions


For the purposes of this chapter—

- (1) “fusion” means a process whereby two light nuclei, such as deuterium and tritium, collide at high velocity, forming a compound nucleus, which subsequently separates into constituents which are different from the original colliding nuclei, and which carry away the accompanying [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) [release](/usc/42/9601.md?p=22);
- (2) “magnetic fusion” means the use of magnetic fields to confine a very hot, fully ionized gas of light nuclei, so that the [fusion](#1) process can occur;
- (3) “energy system” means a [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) designed to utilize [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) released in the [magnetic fusion](#2) process for the generation of electricity and the production of [hydrogen](/usc/42/16152.md?p=1) or other fuels;
- (4) “fusion engineering device” means a [magnetic fusion](#2) [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) which achieves at least a burning plasma and serves to test components for engineering purposes;
- (5) “demonstration plant” means a prototype [energy system](#3) which is of sufficient size to provide safety, environmental reliability, availability, and ready engineering extrapolation of all components to commercial size but which system need not be economically competitive with then alternative [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) sources; and
- (6) “Secretary” means Secretary of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–386, § 3, Oct. 7, 1980, 94 Stat. 1540.)