Patent Number: 043280706
Section: claims

1. A method for the achievement of fusion energy release by inertial confinement comprising: (a) positioning a target within a cavity filled with a tenuous gas, the atomic weight A of the gas being given by ##EQU6## where R is the gas constant, Z is the degree of ionization given by Z=6.6.times.10.sup.-3 T.sup.0.41, T varies from 5.times.10.sup.6 .degree.K. to 10.sup.7 .degree.K., V varies from 20 km/sec to 200 km/sec;  (b) using at least one power source to implode said cavity, the implosion being selected from the group consisting of ablatively driven implosion or direct high velocity impact implosion, said tenuous gas, having an initial atomic number density of between 10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3 and 10.sup.21 cm.sup.-3, becoming a source of black body radiation upon the high implosion velocity (V);  (c) confining, compressing and thereby amplifying the black body radiation;  (d) ablatively imploding the target positioned inside said cavity by means of black body radiation absorbed on the surface of said target. 2. The application of the method according to claim 1 for the generation of useful power by letting a sequence of fusion microexplosions take place inside a reactor chamber. 3. The application of the method according to claim 1 for the propulsion of spacecraft by letting a sequence of fusion microexplosions take place behind a structure being selected from the group consisting of either a pusher plate or concave reflector. 4. The application of the method according to claim 1 where said target includes a small amount of fissile material is compressed with the goal of controlled release of fission energy in small bursts. 5. The application of the method according to claim 1 where the target is composed of both fissile and fusionable material and together being ablatively compressed by the black body radiation for enhanced fission and fusion yield of the ensuing microexplosions. 6. The application of the method according to claim 1 where the source to implode the cavity is selected from the group consisting of either intense laser or charged particle beams. 7. The application of the method according to claim 1 where the initial energy source to implode the cavity is drawn from a macroscopic projectile accelerated to high velocities. 8. The application of the method according to claim 1 where the energy source to implode the cavity is obtained from focused chemical explosion waves.