Polarized Fusion: An Idea More Than Thirty Years Old! What Are We Waiting For?

Abstract

The present status of the fusion research is strictly connected to government investments on the corresponding research projects like ITER, or the proposed IGNITOR and DEMO reactors. The production of energy by nuclear fusion is a perfect option that could give “breath” to the planet. Recent agreements on limiting the global climate change and plans for our future life on the planet require the reduction of energy production by carbon-based resources. But even the use of nuclear resources by fission implicates a non negligible risk for our civilization, either by disasters like in Chernobyl or in Fukushima, or by the release of the fission products into environment. $\mathrm{CO}_2$ emissions into the atmosphere and the growing and developing population urgently require to put more effort into fusion programs worldwide. An additional option for any fusion program could be the use of polarized fuel. It still requires intense effort on the development of the necessary technologies, but it is a realistic option to increase the energy output of different types of fusion reactors and to increase the cost efficiency. First of all we would like to give an overview on the current situation in energy production and recent climate development. Secondly, we would like to provide an introduction to the contents of this volume, devoted to nuclear fusion using polarized fuels.