We apply a few simple first-principles equations to identify the parameter space in which controlled fusion might be possible. Fundamental physical parameters such as minimum size, energy, and power as well as cost are estimated. We explain why the fusion fuel density in inertial confinement fusion is more than times larger than the fuel density in magnetic confinement fusion. We introduce magnetized target fusion as one possible way of accessing a density regime that is intermediate between the two extremes of inertial confinement fusion and magnetic confinement fusion and is potentially lower cost than either of these two.
REFERENCES
1.
“
ITER technical basis
,” International Atomic Energy Agency publication G A0 FDR 1 01–07–13 R 1.0, available at ⟨www.iter.org⟩;A. M.
Sessler
, T. H.
Stix
, and M. N.
Rosenbluth
, “Build the international thermonuclear experimental reactor—Yes or no?
,” Phys. Today
49
(6
), 21
–25
(1996
).2.
J. D.
Lindl
, “Development of the indirect drive approach to inertial confinement fusion and the target physics basis for ignition and gain
,” Phys. Plasmas
2
, 3933
–4024
(1995
);J. D.
Lindl
, R. L.
McCrory
, and E. M.
Campbell
, “Progress toward ignition and burn propagation in inertial confinement fusion
,” Phys. Today
45
(9
), 32
–40
(1992
).3.
R. F.
Post
, “Resource Letter IMCF-1: Inertially and magnetically confined fusion
,” Am. J. Phys.
68
, 105
–114
(2000
).4.
R. J.
Howerton
, “Maxwell-averaged reaction rates for selected reactions between ions with atomic mass
,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Report UCRL-50400, Vol. 21
, Pt. A (1979
).5.
6.
S. I.
Braginskii
, “Transport processes in plasmas
,” in Reviews of Plasma Physics
, edited by M. A.
Leontovich
(Consultants Bureau
, New York
, 1977
), pp. 195
–311
.7.
R. E.
Siemon
, I. R.
Lindemuth
, and K. F.
Schoenberg
, “Why magnetized target fusion offers a low-cost development path for fusion energy
,” Comments Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion
18
, 363
–386
(1999
).8.
E.
Fermi
, “Super Lecture No. 5—Thermal conduction as affected by a magnetic field
,” Los Alamos Laboratory Report No. 344 (1945
).9.
See, for example,
2006 International Conference on Megagauss Magnetic Field Generation and Related Topics
, edited by G. F.
Kiuttu
, R. E.
Reinovsky
, and P. J.
Turchi
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
, Piscataway, NJ
, 2007
).10.
R. C.
Kirkpatrick
, “Ignition critical profiles for small fusion targets
,” Nucl. Fusion
21
, 1457
–1466
(1981
).11.
12.
The Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) is described at ⟨www.pppl. gov/projects/pages/tftr.html⟩.
13.
W. M.
Parsons
et al., “The Atlas Project—A new pulsed power facility for high energy density physics experiments
,” IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.
25
, 205
–211
(1997
);T.
Feder
, “Atlas shrugged off at Nevada test site
,” Phys. Today
59
(6
), 25
–26
(2006
).14.
S. F.
Garanin
, V. I.
Mamyshev
, and V. B.
Yakubov
, “The MAGO system: Current status
,” IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.
34
, 2273
–2278
(2006
).15.
R. P.
Drake
, J. H.
Hammer
, C. W.
Hartman
, L. J.
Perkins
, and D. D.
Ryutov
, “Submegajoule liner implosion of a closed field line configuration
,” Fusion Technol.
30
, 310
–325
(1996
);I. R.
Lindemuth
et al., “Magnetic-compression/magnetized-target fusion (MAGO/MTF): A marriage of inertial and magnetic confinement
,” IAEA Conference Proceedings IAEA-CN-64/DP-27 (16th International Conference on Fusion Energy
, Montreal
, 1996
), pp. 723
–724
;P. J.
Turchi
, “Imploding liner compression of plasma: Concepts and issues
,” IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.
36
, 52
–61
(2008
).16.
T.
Kammash
and B. N.
Cassenti
, “A high-gain fusion reactor based on the magnetically insulated inertial confinement fusion (MICF) concept
,” Nucl. Fusion
29
, 1079
–1099
(1989
).17.
“
Sandia and Kurchatov groups claim electron-beam fusion
,” Phys. Today
30
(8
), 17
–19
(1977
);J. N.
Olsen
, M. M.
Widner
, J.
Chang
, and L.
Baker
, “Fuel preconditioning studies for e-beam fusion targets
,” J. Appl. Phys.
50
, 3224
–3230
(1979
).18.
M. A.
Sweeney
and A. V.
Farnsworth
, “High-gain, low-intensity ICF targets for a charged-particle beam fusion driver
,” Nucl. Fusion
21
, 41
–54
(1981
).19.
I. R.
Lindemuth
and R. C.
Kirkpatrick
, “Parameter space for magnetized fuel targets in inertial confinement fusion
,” Nucl. Fusion
23
(3
), 263
–284
(1983
).20.
I. R.
Lindemuth
et al., “US/Russian collaboration in high-energy-density physics using high-explosive pulsed power: Ultrahigh current experiments, ultrahigh magnetic field applications, and progress towards controlled thermonuclear fusion
,” IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.
25
, 1357
–1372
(1997
).21.
A. M.
Buyko
et al., “Results of Russian/US high-performance DEMG experiment
,” IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.
25
, 145
–154
(1997
).22.
I. R.
Lindemuth
and R. C.
Kirkpatrick
, “The promise of magnetized fuel: High gain in inertial confinement fusion
,” Fusion Technol.
20
, 829
–842
(1991
).23.
C.
Olson
et al., “Development path for Z-pinch IFE
,” Fusion Sci. Technol.
47
, 633
–640
(2005
).24.
B.
Feinberg
, “An experimental study of hot plasma in contact with a cold wall
,” Plasma Phys.
18
, 265
–275
(1976
).25.
J. D.
Dawson
, H.
Okuda
, and R. N.
Carlile
, “Numerical simulation of plasma diffusion across a magnetic field in two dimensions
,” Phys. Rev. Lett.
27
, 491
–494
(1971
).26.
J. H.
Degnan
et al., “Experimental and computational progress on liner implosions for compression of FRCs
,” IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.
36
, 80
–91
(2008
).27.
Y. C. F.
Thio
, “Status of the U. S. program in magneto-inertial fusion
,” J. Phys.: Conf. Ser.
112
(042084
), 1
–7
(2008
).28.
S.
Jones
, R.
Kidder
, and F.
von Hippel
, “The questions of pure-fusion explosions under the CTBT
,” Phys. Today
51
(9
), 57
–59
(1998
).29.
I. R.
Lindemuth
, R. E.
Reinovsky
, and V. N.
Mokhov
, “Obituary for Vladimer K. Chernyshev
,” Phys. Today
59
(6
), 78
–79
(2006
).© 2009 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2009
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to the American Journal of Physics and The Physics Teacher as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.