Status and Perspectives of a Reversed Field Pinch as a Pilot Neutron Source

Fusion-fission hybrid reactors are seen as a possible, mid-term, CO
₂
-free energy source. Starting from the progress in understanding the reversed field pinch plasma confinement, a pilot neutron source with a configuration of R = 4 m and a = 0.8 m and a plasma current of up to 14 mega-ampére (MA) is proposed. A staged experimental approach, with increased complexity and investment, was identified to tackle the existing issues related to scientific and technological aspects and to test the D-T operation at reduced fusion power (P_fus ≈ 30 MW, Q ≈ 0.4, continuous pulsed operation).