Energetic aspects of fast-fusion reactors with dense liners of medium velocities (10 to 100 kms-1)

The paper deals with energetic problems of fast fusion reactors in which cylindrical liners implode at 'intermediary' velocities, i.e. 10 to 100 kms-1. The heat transfer between plasma and liner are reduced by a longitudinal magnetic field at β>>1. First of all, the global energy regime of the process is studied, for a dense and thin liner, as a function of velocity and thermonuclear combustion rate. Then the results are applied to the model of a simple liner consisting of a cold, thin metallic tube accelerated by a magnetic field. Finally for this model, orders of magnitude of energies are given that can be applied in the construction of an effective reactor. (author)