Advanced fuels for heavy-ion beam fusion

The potential of using advanced-fuel heavy-ion beam fusion is discussed as an avenue for achieving improved environmental and safety factors in a fusion power plant. Deuterium targets ignited by a D-T spark region (AFLINT concept) are viewed as the most practical near-term approach. An earlier reactor study (LOTRIT) using this concept is reviewed to evaluate the potential improvement in safety/environment impact. The result, including a reduction of tritium inventory by two orders of magnitude, suggests that this route to heavy-ion beam fusion should receive serious consideration. (orig.)