A future ICE (thermonuclear, that is!)

Abstract

The advent of high-powered lasers has created quite a stir among nuclear physicists, who are enthusiastically examining the prospects of using these devices in a new approach to the problem of creating ultrahigh-temperature plasmas to maintain and control thermonuclear fusion. The idea of building ``modern internal combustion engines'' (ICE) based on this form of clean, efficient, and powerful energy was examined by Edward Teller at the 7th International Quantum Electronics Conference, Montreal, Canada, during May 8-11, 1972, where he deliberated upon the overwhelming engineering problems to be solved before such an engine could be realized. Dr. Teller's exciting commentary would have been lost had it not been for the attendance of Spectrum staff writer Marce Eleccion and the kind assistance of James R. Packard of the 3M Co., who tape-recorded Dr. Teller's remarks. Subsequently, Dr. Teller and Mr. Eleccion edited the tapes to produce this article. At the conference itself, the famed thermonuclear expert's unique sense of humor was exhibited when the session chairman (in his introductory remarks) confessed to the audience that he did not really know the content of the upcoming presentation, to which Dr. Teller replied: ``I might perhaps start by saying that I don't know either what I am going to tell you, and for that reason, I will listen very carefully and recommend the same to you.''