Production of dense thermonuclear plasmas by intense ion beams

For very high density plasmas, large energy accumulation within a small volume is required. As an alternative to laser- or relativistic electron-beams, the employment of intense non-relativistic beams of heavy ions is considered. Because of the rather low ion velocities, the beams can be axially compressed thereby shortening the duration of the beam pulse and increasing the beam power by perhaps several orders of magnitude. The low ion velocities make it possible to build up the beam rather slowly in about approximately 10-6 sec, prior to its axial compression and delivery to the target. This long build up time may permit the use of cheap inductive energy storage devices to drive the beam. In case capacitors are used one can simply pulse the beam with the upper terminal of a Marx generator.