Energy from Inertial Fusion

SEP 01, 1992

Progress in drivers, reactors and targets has made smaller, more flexible power plants feasible and has reduced the potential costs of developing them.

DOI: 10.1063/1.881319

William J. Hogan

Roger Bangerter

Gerald L. Kulcinski

Fusion is potentially a safe clean source not limited by political boundaries. Magnetic and inertial fusion share this promise, but there are differences between them. An inertial fusion power plant is based on different physics and technology from a magnetic fusion power plant and therefore presents somewhat different benefits and challenges. The facilities required to demonstrate inertial fusion power are potentially much smaller. In this article we describe concepts for such a power plant, its beneficial features and a low‐cost reactor test facility for developing practical fusion power.

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More about the authors

William J. Hogan, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California.

Roger Bangerter, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, California.

Gerald L. Kulcinski, Fusion Technology Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison.