Recent Progress and Plans for Heavy Ion Fusion

Abstract

The heavy ion inertial fusion community has completed two years of conceptual designs, cost estimates, theoretical analyses and a modest experimental effort in ion sources and preaccelerators. Designs have narrowed to rf linacs (with storage rings) and induction linacs. Considerable progress has been made in the theory of high current beam handling. Ion sources at levels appropriate to both linac types have been demonstrated. Attention is turning to more detailed accelerator designs appropriate to a three-stage program, the first stage involving demonstration of high current beam techniques, the second stage aimed at ion-pellet deposition experiments, the third stage being a megajoule class pellet driver. In this paper progress is reviewed, with emphasis on program implications.