The basic physics of thermonuclear process

The paper states density and temperature requirements for which a radiation-cooled ionized plasma could yield a net power gain from fusion reactions in deuterium or deuterium-tritium mixtures. Containment of the plasma by electric or magnetic fields is shown to be essential, and the behaviour of the plasma in such fields is discussed. Magnetic mirror fields are discussed briefly, and an attempt is made to list the forms of wave motion which can occur in such a plasma. Some features of the self-pinched discharge are stated and the stability conditions for a possible model of such a pinched discharge are outlined. Attention is drawn to some experimental results tending to invalidate assumptions used in the theoretical formulation.