Thermal overstability in fusion plasmas - the SASER effect

The possibility that a deuterium-tritium plasma undergoing thermonuclear fusion might be thermally overstable is discussed. An acoustic disturbance propagating in such a medium is considered, which can grow in amplitude due to the higher and lower rates of energy generation at the peaks and troughs of the wave. A region of definite overstability is identified, and the significance of the effect in the context of practical controlled fusion machines is discussed. (author)