Open AccessAneutronic Fusion in a Degenerate Plasma
Author(s) -
S. Son,
Nathaniel J. Fisch
Publication year - 2004
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/835895
Subject(s) - degenerate energy levels , plasma , bremsstrahlung , atomic physics , nuclear fusion , ion , electron , physics , fusion , nuclear physics , fusion power , computational physics , nuclear engineering , quantum mechanics , engineering , linguistics , philosophy
In a Fermi-degenerate plasma, the electronic stopping of a slow ion is smaller than that given by the classical formula, because some transitions between the electron states are forbidden. The bremsstrahlung losses are then smaller, so that the nuclear burning of an aneutronic fuel is more efficient. Consequently, there occurs a parameter regime in which self-burning is possible. Practical obstacles in this regime that must be overcome before net energy can be realized include the compression of the fuel to an ultra dense state and the creation of a hot spot