Initiation of thermonuclear reactions by high-current electron beams

Abstract

It has been shown previously that the ignition of thermonuclear micro-explosions ( micro-bombs) may become possible by bombarding a dense thermonuclear target with an intense relativistic electron beam. Although such a scheme is within the realm of technical feasibility, the energy requirements were shown to be considerable, amounting to a burst of relativistic electrons of several megajoules to be delivered within several nanoseconds. It is shown in this paper that the energy requirements can be greatly reduced by utilizing the strong self-magnetic field of intense electron beams. The strong self-magnetic field can reduce the electronic-heat-conduction losses and also greatly quench the range of the charged fusion products within the thermonuclear target. The reduction in the input energy in conjunction with the demand for a strong self-magnetic beam field directs the emphasis on beams of relatively low voltage but high current. The relatively low beam voltage also facilitates the beam energy dissipation in the target.Because of the much greater ease and efficiency by which intense electron beams can be produced as compared to laser beams and because of the energy-reducing effect of the self-magnetic beam field the described method may have substantial advantages over the laser method of bombarding a thermonuclear target.