The little bang theory—Energy from inertial fusion

Calculations show that it may be possible to ignite small thermonuclear explosions with an ion accelerator or laser. The process involves the implosion of small targets to achieve extreme temperatures and densities. The implosion can be described as a sequence of shock waves followed by adiabatic compression. The strength and timing of the shock waves are important in achieving proper conditions for thermonuclear burn. Other important issues include the uniformity of the converging shock waves and the influence of these shock waves on fluid instabilities. These issues are not fully understood and constitute an important area of research in inertial fusion. In order to produce commercial energy, it will be necessary to develop combustion chambers, target fabrication factories, and efficient drivers (accelerators or lasers). These will be briefly discussed. In particular, acoustical phenomena will play an important role in combustion chamber design. [Research performed under the auspices of the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration under Contract No. W‐7405‐Eng‐48.]