Breakeven in Nuclear Fusion via Electron-Free Target

TL;DR

This paper proposes an electron-free target approach in nuclear fusion that reduces stopping power, enabling fusion energy to surpass input energy without high-temperature plasma confinement.

Contribution

It introduces a novel beam-target interaction method with an energy-based criterion, offering an alternative pathway to fusion energy.

Findings

Electron-free targets drastically reduce stopping power.

Fusion energy can surpass beam energy deposition under practical conditions.

The approach bypasses the need for high-temperature plasma confinement.

Abstract

Nuclear fusion promises a nearly limitless energy source, but achieving breakeven-where fusion output exceeds input-requires extreme plasma conditions and complex confinement systems. Here we propose an alternative approach based on beam-target interactions, introducing a simple energy-based criterion that compares fusion energy generation with energy loss. By creating electron-free targets, stopping power is drastically reduced, enabling conditions where fusion energy surpasses beam energy deposition under practical scenarios. This approach offers a viable alternative pathway to fusion energy without high-temperature plasma confinement and warrants further experimental investigation.