In nuclear physics, Fusion is a kind of nuclear reaction where two or more subatomic particles combine to create other subatomic particles. For example, a Deuterium (also called heavy Hydrogen, with one Proton and one Neutron) nucleus can combine with a Neutron to produce a Tritium (Heavier Hydrogen, with one proton and two neutrons) nucleus. Many such fusion reactions are exothermic, that is, a net amount of energy is released when the particles combine. The major bottleneck that prohibits us from using fusion as a energy source is that it usually requires extremely high speeds of collision (and thus high temperatures) to fuse the particles together.

Deuterium to Tritium Fusion (Courtesy: PowerFrontiers)One controversial approach that is claimed to have successfully initiated fusion reactions at low temperatures is by collapsing bubbles containing Deuterium, using sound waves. The collapsing bubble is supposed to generate high temperatures inside it, thereby initiating a fusion. Now latest research by scientists at Purdue University might have found solid evidence for it:):). The new findings (by Yiban Xu and Adam Butt) are published in the journal Nuclear Engineering and Design.
A glass test chamber about the size of two coffee mugs was filled with a liquid called Deuterated Acetone, which is a compound that contains Deuterium atoms. The researchers exposed the test chamber to neutrons and then bombarded the liquid with a specific frequency of ultrasound, which caused cavities to form into tiny bubbles. The bubbles then expanded to a much larger size before imploding, apparently with enough force to cause fusion reactions!!
The researchers found evidence of Tritium (a product of the fusion reaction). The experiment also yielded neutrons, whose energy was as expected for such fusion reactions:):). Interestingly, the same results were not seen when normal acetone (which has Hydrogen instead of Deuterium) was used, thus bolstering the findings.
If the findings are independently confirmed, this would be a watershed moment in the history of science. Not only would it make costly and behemoth constructions like the Tokamak reactor (to be built in France by a six-country alliance) superfluous, it could also result in new energy production technologies at a much earlier date:):). I am keeping my fingers crossed:D:D.