US Startup Proposes Creating Gold with Fusion Technology: A Modern Alchemy Attempt
In a bold intersection of physics and technology, a California-based startup named Marathon Fusion has put forward an ambitious claim: the ability to synthesize gold using nuclear fusion technology. This development, hailed as a contemporary take on the ancient alchemist’s dream, brings forward a fusion-powered method of transmuting mercury into gold, potentially revolutionizing how this precious metal is produced.
The Science Behind Elemental Transmutation
Transforming one element into another is not a novel concept in physics. For decades, particle accelerators and colliders have demonstrated that smashing subatomic particles together can change atomic nuclei and create different elements. Notably, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Geneva has produced trace amounts of gold, albeit in quantities so tiny that commercial production is unfeasible. For instance, the LHC’s Alice experiment yielded only 29 picograms of gold over four years—a rate so slow that manufacturing a troy ounce would take far longer than the age of the universe.
Marathon Fusion’s Innovative Approach
Departing from traditional heavy machinery like particle accelerators, Marathon Fusion aims to harness the intense neutron radiation generated within a nuclear fusion reactor to initiate a nuclear reaction that transmutes mercury into gold. The process centers on irradiating mercury-198 with neutrons to form mercury-197, a radioactive isotope. This isotope then undergoes radioactive decay, transforming into stable gold-197. The startup estimates that a fusion power plant could produce several tonnes of gold per gigawatt of thermal power annually, signaling a potentially lucrative outcome if achieved.
Fusion reactors operate by fusing isotopes of hydrogen—deuterium and tritium—within an extremely hot plasma. This fusion releases neutrons with high energy levels, needed to trigger the mercury transmutation cycle. Neutrons must possess energies exceeding six million electron volts to enable the conversion of mercury-198 into gold effectively.
Simulation and Challenges Ahead
Marathon Fusion’s estimates are founded on a "digital twin" model, a sophisticated computer simulation replicating the physics of the fusion reaction alongside consequent radioactive processes. While digital twins are powerful tools, their predictive power hinges on validation from real-world fusion reactors—which currently do not exist commercially.
The road to a functioning commercial fusion reactor remains riddled with scientific and engineering challenges: developing new materials that withstand extreme conditions, mastering continuous power extraction, and deploying advanced artificial intelligence systems to stabilize the fusion plasma. Even leading fusion research projects like the UK’s Joint European Torus (JET) have only achieved modest energy gains to date.
Cutting-edge research, such as the UK’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), offers promise by innovating plasma exhaust control to shrink reactor sizes. STEP’s prototype aims for completion by 2040, potentially setting the stage for more viable fusion technology.
Radioactivity and Economic Viability Considerations
One significant caveat in producing gold through fusion-mediated mercury transmutation is that the freshly created gold would initially be radioactive, classifying it as radioactive waste that demands careful handling and storage until it stabilizes. Processing this material into usable, non-radioactive gold presents an additional layer of complexity.
Moreover, the neutron flux intensity required to induce these nuclear reactions is substantial, and generating it at scale calls for highly advanced and reliable fusion systems. These factors raise questions about the method’s economic feasibility and whether it can compete with traditional gold mining or existing synthesis methods.
Looking Ahead
While the physical principles underpinning Marathon Fusion’s proposal are grounded in established nuclear physics, the concept currently exists only in computational simulations pending validation by functional fusion reactors. Consequently, this approach remains a theoretical prospect rather than an imminent commercial reality.
Should the challenges be overcome, and fusion power plants capable of sustaining high neutron fluxes come online, the fusion-driven production of gold could present a fascinating new chapter in both energy and materials science. Until then, creating gold from mercury through fusion remains an inspiring vision—an example of how scientific progress continues to push the boundaries of what was once thought impossible.
This article is based on insights originally published by Adrian Bevan, Professor of Physics at Queen Mary University of London, in The Conversation and republished under a Creative Commons license.
