Abstract
It is shown that deuterium based fusion fuels and reactors based on them face severe technological disadvantages in comparison with fission based systems as power sources for central station electric power plants. The author postulates the most plausible deuterium based fusion reactor consistent with the physics of the fusion reaction itself and compares this reactor (called “OMR-DT”) with existing fission reactors. Since neutrons are the main problem in fusion, the author suggests that a great deal more effort should be given to the study of non-Maxwellian plasmas with the emphasis on neutron-free fuel cycles. The author also suggests that the deuterium based fusion driver may play its best role as a fissile fuel producer.
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Lidsky, L.M. End product economics and fusion research program priorities. J Fusion Energ 2, 269–292 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01063682
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01063682