MAGNETIZED TARGET FUSION - AN OVERVIEW

The magnetized target fusion (MTF) concept is explained, and the under lying principles are discussed. The necessity of creating a target pla sma and the advantage of decoupling its creation from the implosion us ed to achieve fusion ignition are explained. The Sandia National Labor atories Phi-target experiments is one concrete example of the MTF conc ept, but other experiments have involved some elements of MTF. Lindl-W idner diagrams are used to elucidate the parameter space available to MTF and the physics of MTF ignition. Magnetized target fusion has both limitations and advantages relative to inertial confinement fusion. T he chief advantage is that the driver for an MTF target can be orders of magnitude less powerful and in tense than what is required for othe r inertial fusion approaches. A number of critical issues challenge th e practical realization of MTF. Past experience, critical issues, and potential integral MTF experiments are discussed.