Reviving nuclear fusion reaction cycles in solido

Abstract

We present a new revision of nuclear fusion reaction cycles, whereby a solid room temperature lithium-6 deuteride (⁶LiD) is burnt with neutrons beams. New calculations of the time evolution of a network of differential equations for the abundancies of various nuclear species are presented. Data on nuclear cross-sections and non-thermal reaction rates are used to forecast the full time evolution of the most relevant thermonuclear reactions. Two cycles are considered: the Jetter n+⁶Li and Post cycles p+⁶Li. According to our calculations, there are great expectations for energy extraction in devices not based on plasma confinement, but rather on controlled nuclear burning into final products (mainly alpha particles).