Advances in Fusion Physics: Advanced and Alternative Approaches to Inertial Fusion

Instead of trying to maintain a steady plasma undergoing fusion burn, ICF is a pulsed scheme in which pellets of fusion fuel are compressed by a high power driver (e.g. a large number of high power laser beams) to densities around 1000 g/cc whilst also creating a ‘hot spot’ that can initiate fusion burn. This field has recently enjoyed success in the form of multiple ignition shots on the National Ignition Facility (NIF, USA) which have demonstrated net gain ( 1 100. Currently there is no ‘nexus’ amongst the available journals which can bring work on these concepts together in one place. Having such a nexus (which this Research Topic would be) could substantially invigorate this important area.This Research Topic is intended to attract novel articles from researchers studying ICF schemes other than central hot spot ignition of DT fuel by either indirect or direct drive. This includes but is not limited to: -shock ignition, electron-based fast ignition, -ion-based fast ignition, -advanced ignition schemes incorporating magnetic fields, -and impact ignition.In terms of 'alternative approaches' this means ignition of other fuels, e.g. p-11B and deuterium. This Research Topic also welcomes contributions that provide supporting research and techniques for Advanced Ignition. Topic editors: Alex Robinson, Fabrizio Consoli, John Pasley Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78404/advances-in-fusion-physics-advanced-and-alternative-approaches-to-inertial-fusion