Fusion, it is time to color outside the lines (OJAppS, Vol 14, March 2024)*

This paper explores ways to convert the burning plasma tirumph at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, as well as the achievement of hydrodynamic equivalent implosions at URLLE, and the work on excimer lasers at NRL to fusion for the civilian energy sector.  It argues that;

1.  At this point inertial fusion makes much more sense for the American Fusion Project than magnetic fusion.  Magnetic fusion has many more obstacles, enumerated in the paper.

2.  A new Doe lab should be specifically set up to examine this potential opportunity.   It is an effort that will cost at least several hundred million per year for several decades.   Since the goals of this new lab and LLNL are so different, likely cooperation would be maximized and competition, minimized.

3.  As an expensive component, the hohlraum is destroyed every shot to produce something very cheap, a few tens of kwhrs of electricity; direct drive is almot certainly the way to go.

4.  Fusion breeding should be seriously considered.  If the computer estimates of success for direct fusion prove optimistic, it is very likely that fusion breeding may well be achievable.  Also  it is the only way that a single breeder can fuel many thermal nuclear reactors, in fact breeding may the the optimum outcome for fusion. 

5. The paper briefly explores a new reaction chamber which might allow a flowing blanket with a free surface. 

6.  Getting tritium to initialize a fusion based economy is no simple matter.  The paper suggests a way to go.