Includes bibliographical references (page 133) and index.

1 Engine That Powers the Universe 1 -- Process of Hydrogen Fusion 3 -- Big Bang Nucleosynthesis: Fusion When the Universe Was Young 12 -- Stellar Nucleosynthesis: Making Elements by Nuclear Fusion 17 -- Explosive Nucleosynthesis: Making the Heaviest Elements 21 -- 2 A Brief History of Fusion Power Research 24 -- Early Indications and Theories of Nuclear Fusion 24 -- A Successful Application of Fusion Theory: The Hydrogen Bomb 26 -- Spark in Argentina That Started Fusion Research 30 -- Magnetic Pinch Devices Show Promise and Disappointment 33 -- Laser Fusion Takes the Lead 41 -- 3 Magnetic Confinement Devices 46 -- Tokamak: A Toroidal Chamber in Magnetic Coils 49 -- Stellarator: A Twisted Tokamak 55 -- Joint European Torus Reactor 59 -- Tore Supra and Other Attempts to Improve Magnetic Confinement 64 -- 4 Inertial Confinement Devices 69 -- Z-Pinch Device 72 -- SHIVA, NOVA, and Very Large Experiments 77 -- 5 Exotic Fusion Reactor Designs 87 -- Muon-Catalyzed Fusion 89 -- Migma Fusion Reactor 91 -- Cold Fusion 93 -- Polywell Fusion 100 -- Dense Plasma Focus 102 -- Bubble Fusion 104 -- PACER Project 109 -- 6 Future of Fusion Power 111 -- ITER (International Tokamak Experimental Reactor) 112 -- National Ignition Facility 117 -- DEMO Power Plant: Ultimate Proof of Fusion Power Generation 120.