A point fusion reactor kinetics model admitting fuel and chain link balance conditions; the P-6Li case

A set of coupled first-order non-linear differential equations that describe the kinetic behavior of the fusion carrier, fuel and chain link ion densities of a self-sustaining nuclear fusion multiplicative chain is obtained. This model is used to study the stability of the low and high-order P-6Li cycle by means of Liapunov's direct method. The low-order cycle turns out to be asymptotically stable whereas the results for the high-order cycle are inconclusive. Solutions were obtained in the linear approximation for devices working at constant fuel density and constant operating temperature. These solutions confirm the asymptotic stability of the low-order cycle and suggest possible fusion excursions for the high-order cycle. (orig.)