THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTING OFF AND CONDUCTING THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS BY MEANS OF CONTROLLED LASER OR ELECTRON BEAMS

摘要

1446671 Thermonuclear fission; thermonuclear fusion F WINTERBERG 2 Jan 1974 [12 Jan 1973] 00017/74 Heading G6P Thermonuclear fission is initiated in a body of fissile material, e.g. U-233, U-235 or Pu-239, including material capable of releasing energy by a fusion process, by compressing the body to a critical assembly using a beam of radiation, e.g. laser-, electron- or ion beam. It is preferred to surround the body by a neutron reflector of, e.g. D-T or Li-D, whereby the thermonuclear fusion reactions result. The fuel body may comprise an inner body (1) (Fig. 1, not shown) of fissile material and an outer shell (2) of fusion fuel formed to spherical or cylindrical shape. Alternatively, the inner body (11) (Fig. 2, not shown) can be surrounded by concentric shells alternately of fusion fuel (12, 14, 16) and fissile fuel (13, 15). The body may contain cavities which are eliminated during compression.