Beam-target

A beam of fast ions fired into a fuel target that is not itself a hot plasma, such as a gas cell or a solid loaded with deuterium or tritium. As each beam ion ploughs through the target it loses its energy to the target's electrons far faster than it is likely to fuse, so only a tiny fraction of the ions fuse before they stop. The fusion energy returned is a small fraction of the energy spent accelerating the beam, so the approach cannot reach net energy gain however the beam or target is arranged. It is commercially useful anyway, as a compact and reliable source of neutrons for imaging and medical isotope production.

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Beam-target in the glossary · Fusion overview · All approaches