The application of intense ion beams to the creation of hot dense plasmas

Abstract

A broad review is presented of the physics central to the production of hot dense plasmas by intense ion beams. Particular attention is paid to the reasons for using ion beams rather than lasers. By using simple laws the required beam intensities and ion energies for light ions (protons, deuterons, etc.) and heavy ions ( A > 120) are compared. Current understanding of ion-dense plasma interactions is discussed together with current thinking on possible accelerator sources of intense beams and their final transport to small targets. Emphasis is placed throughout on the use of ion beams for heating targets of deuterium-tritium mixtures to thermonuclear ignition.