Abstract:
Several proposals for the power production application of neutronless fusion reactions and the ${\rm D}+{\rm D}\to ^3{\rm He}+{\rm n}+3.27$ MeV reaction are reviewed. Compressing low-tritium fuel by thermal radiation from one or more D–T microexplosions possibly combined with one or more drivers is considered as the optimum ignition strategy for microexplosions with physically important D–D fusion reactions. Results are presented that show the incorrectness of three assumptions that the ignition of the ${\rm p}+^{11}{\rm B}\to {3\alpha} +8.9$ MeV reaction can be facilitated by chain reactions. The delivery of lunar $^3{\rm He}$ as a thermonuclear fuel component for large-scale power production on Earth is discussed from the standpoint of expediency.
Keywords:controlled thermonuclear fusion, neutronless fusion reaction, DD fusion, igniting a microexplosion by a microexplosion, lunar helium-3.
PACS:25.60.Pj, 28.52.-s, 28.52.Cx, 52.57.Bc
Received:October 18, 2017 Revised:February 22, 2018 Accepted: March 6, 2018
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