Highlights of heavy ion fusion research in the US

Summary form only given. The US Heavy Ion Fusion Accelerator Research (HIFAR) program is developing an induction linac as driver for the requisite particle beams. The major research efforts supported through HIFAR are concerned with the physics of intense particle beams, the necessary accelerator technology development, and the interfaces with the final target and fusion chamber requirements. The induction linac is designed to simultaneously accelerate and compress a group of parallel beams from low energy, low current (amperes), long pulse length (submilliseconds) to the high energies (5-10 GeV), high current (10-100 kA), short pulse length (5-10 ns at peak power) required for igniting the pellet. The scientific success of such a system depends crucially on a judicious choice of a properly integrated set of parameters for the requirements of the target pellets and the final beam propagation through the fusion chamber gases, as well as a set of final focusing lenses designed around specific fusion chamber and target requirements