An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy

National Research Council

doi:10.17226/18289

Consensus Study Report

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An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy

(2013)

The potential for using fusion energy to produce commercial electric power was first explored in the 1950s. Harnessing fusion energy offers the prospect of a nearly carbon-free energy source with a virtually unlimited supply of fuel. Unlike nuclear fission plants, appropriately designed fusion power plants would not produce the large amounts of high-level nuclear waste that requires long-term disposal. Due to these prospects, many nations have initiated research and development (R&D) programs aimed at developing fusion as an energy source. Two R&D approaches are being explored: magnetic fusion energy (MFE) and inertial fusion energy (IFE).

An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy describes and assesses the current status of IFE research in the United States; compares the various technical approaches to IFE; and identifies the scientific and engineering challenges associated with developing inertial confinement fusion (ICF) in particular as an energy source. It also provides guidance on an R&D roadmap at the conceptual level for a national program focusing on the design and construction of an inertial fusion energy demonstration plant.

Contributor(s): National Research Council; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; Board on Physics and Astronomy; Board on Energy and Environmental Systems; Committee on the Prospects for Inertial Confinement Fusion Energy Systems

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National Research Council. 2013. An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/18289.

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Publication Info

246 pages | 7 x 10 |

ISBNs:

Paperback: 978-0-309-27081-6
Ebook: 978-0-309-27224-7

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/18289

Chapters		skim
Front Matter	i-xvi
Summary	1-11
1 Introduction	12-28
2 Status and Challenges for Inertial Fusion Energy Drivers and Targets	29-88
3 Inertial Fusion Energy Technologies	89-145
4 A Roadmap for Inertial Fusion Energy	146-170
Appendixes	171-172
Appendix A: The Basic Science of Inertial Fusion Energy	173-176
Appendix B: Statements of Task	177-178
Appendix C: Agendas for Committee Meetings and Site Visits	179-192
Appendix D: Agendas for Meetings of the Panel on the Assessment of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Targets	193-196
Appendix E: Bibliography of Previous Inertial Confinement Fusion Studies Consulted by the Committee	197-198
Appendix F: Foreign Inertial Fusion Energy Programs	199-203
Appendix G: Glossary and Acronyms	204-209
Appendix H: Summary from the Report of the Panel on the Assessment of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Targets (Unclassified Version)	210-218
Appendix I: Technical Discussion of the Recent Results from the National Ignition Facility	219-221
Appendix J: Detailed Discussion of Technology Applications Event Profiles	222-230

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