Inertial confinement fusion driven by heavy-ion beams

Abstract

Fundamental concepts, current status and future prospects of heavy-ion-driven inertial confinement fusion are described. Target physics issues are emphasised. An account is given of experimental programmes now under way, including beam/plasma interaction and accelerator physics experiments. Plans for high-intensity beam/target research using heavy-ion beams from the synchrotron at GSI, Darmstadt, FRG are presented.