Fusion-fission detonators for advanced fuels

A mechanism in which a quasi-spherical fast liner implodes on a Z-superpinch as a target is discussed. It is argued that if the target is a Pu-D-T cylinder the implosion can result in a fusion-fission microexplosion whose yield is of the order of 1 GJ. This ought to be sufficient to propagate nuclear reaction axially out into hard-to-ignite fuels such as DD, LiD. A reactor in which 10 GJ is liberated every 10 s is briefly mentioned.I am grateful to Dr. M. Srinivasan for criticism and bringing to my notice the work of authors unknown to myself and to Dr. B. Robouch for his generous help with numerical caiculations. I also wish to express my thanks to Prof. M. Haines and Prof. V. Nardi for several important suggestions.