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17 Pulse power technology can compress large quantities of electricity into reasonably short pulses efficiently and at relatively low cost. In a light-ion accelerator, an electrical pulse of the required energy is progressively shortened by a variety of pulsed power techniques, and the resulting pulse of a few tens of megavolts is applied to a diode whose anode emits the desired ion such as Li+1. The ions are generally accelerated in a single step; although multigap light-ion accelerators have been proposed as fusion drivers, most ongoing studies have concentrated on diode accelerators. Estimates of net driver efficiencies are 20-25%.
18 Several laboratories around the world are studying pulsed-power technology and light-ion diodes. The Angara V machine at Troitsk, Russia, is the largest pulsed-power machine, but light-ion diode studies are not being pursued there. The Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator II at Sandia National Laboratory is the most energetic inertial confinement fusion driver in existence, with the potential to put about 1 MJ on target. At its maximum voltage of 10-30 MV, it requires a few megamperes to achieve the required power.
