Analytical models for the enhancement of fusion reactivity by turbulence

TL;DR

This paper presents analytical models showing how turbulence at small scales can increase fusion reactivity by affecting local fluid velocities, potentially improving inertial confinement fusion efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces a new analytical framework quantifying turbulence-induced reactivity enhancement in fusion plasmas, applicable to subsonic turbulent flows.

Findings

Turbulence enhances fusion reactivity through kinetic effects.

Analytical models quantify the reactivity increase due to turbulence.

Potential for energy savings in ICF experiments.

Abstract

The reactivity of fusion plasma depends not only on its local density and temperature but also, through a recently identified kinetic effect, on the relative velocities of nearby fluid elements. Turbulence on fine spatial scales therefore enhances fusion reactivity. The enhancement is quantified here for general subsonic turbulent flows. Leveraging this effect in the design of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments could enable substantial energy savings.