Work

An ignition criterion for inertial fusion boosted by microturbulence

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Turbulence on fine spatial scales enhances fusion reactivity, enabling ignition at lower temperature. A modified Lawson-like ignition criterion is derived for inertially confined plasmas harboring turbulent kinetic energy. For some turbulent energy spectra, hot spots ignite at lower energy density and smaller volume. While detrimental mixing effects typically accompany turbulence and obscure these advantages, targets might be engineered to drive flow in regions where it is beneficial. The optimal length scale for this driving is identified, typically lying in the micrometer range.

Source: Physics of Plasmas

DOI: 10.1063/5.0295335

Authors: Henry Fetsch, Nathaniel J. Fisch

Institution: Princeton University

Language: English

Topic: Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Nuclear Security Administration

Award: G3530654624