Two papers propose laser‐induced fission

Over the past two years interest has been mounting over the idea of using a laser to compress a pellet and cause thermonuclear fusion (PHYSICS TODAY, August 1972, page 17 and August 1973, page 46). Now two papers, one from the Lebedev Institute and one from the University of Nevada, propose using a laser to compress a pellet of uranium and cause fission. Such an arrangement could be used to make a miniature fission reactor, an intense neutron source, a particle accelerator or a very intense magnetic field, the authors say.