NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.. This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Frank Press is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also spon. sors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of Engineering. 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Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Frank Press and Dr. Robert M. White are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council. This report represents work under Contract No. F49620-85-C-0107 between the United States Air Force and the National Academy of Sciences. Copies of this report are available from: Air Force Studies Board National Research Council 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. John L. McLucas, Chairman QuesTech Inc. AIR FORCE STUDIES BOARD John J. Martin, Vice Chairman NASA (retired) Julian Davidson, Chairman Emeritus, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc. Craig L. Fischer, Diametrix, Inc. C. Cordell Green, Kestrel Institute Grant L. Hansen, System Development Corporation (retired) Erich P. Ippen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lorenz A. Kull, Science Applications International Corporation John K. Lauber, National Transportation Safety Board James W. Mar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Gary D. Mather, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc. Brockway McMillan, Chairman Emeritus, Bell Telephone Labs, Inc. (retired) Hyla S. Napadensky, IIT Research Institute Brian O'Brien, Chairman Emeritus, Private Consultant Jennie R. Patrick, Rohm and Haas Company Joseph E. Urban, University of Southwestern Louisiana Oswald G. Villard, Jr., Member Emeritus, Stanford University COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED FUSION POWER George H. Miley, Chairman University of Illinois Herbert L. Berk, University of Texas at Austin David C. Cartwright, Los Alamos National Laboratory James R. Powell, Jr., Brookhaven National Laboratory Starnes Walker, Phillips Petroleum Company CONSULTANT Randall A. Chapman, University of Illinois LIAISON REPRESENTATIVES David Bixler, Department of Energy AIR FORCE STUDIES BOARD STAFF Vernon H. Miles, Sr., Director Donald L. Whittaker, Editor/Assistant to the Director STATEMENT OF TASK A need has arisen for multimegawatt, spaceborne prime power sources. Although present conventional nuclear reactors can be modified and scaled to meet this requirement, the available solutions are exceedingly expensive. Recognizing this need, the Air Force wishes to study the feasibility of aneutronic fusion. Before proceeding with further studies or research, the Air Force desires an assessment of the potential for development of an aneutronic power source. To complete this study, the committee will: review research and studies related to aneutronic fusion provide an assessment of the feasibility of developing an aneutronic fusion power source. If aneutronic fusion appears feasible, recommend a follow-on study to: Evaluate the relative cost and degree of difficulty of developing an aneutronic power source. Propose a research and development strategy that may lead to an operational system. *The study was originally entitled Ancutronic Fusion Power. During the course of the study the committee determined that the term aneutronic was misleading because it connoted a narrower description of the study than was the case. The term advanced fusion power was adopted. The original statement of task is presented here Appendix A: Space-Related Performance Parameters and Constraints for Fusion Systems o 25 Appendix B: Fusion Fuel Characteristics o 31 Appendix C: Status and Prospects for Magnetic Confinement Fusion o 35 Appendix D: Status and Prospects for Inertial Confinement Fusion o 41 Appendix E: Schedule of Committee Meetings o 45 |