The Ratio of D-T to D-D Reactions as a Measure of the Fuel Density-Radius Product in Initially Tritium-Free Inertial Confinement Fusion Targets

It is proposed that the ratio of deuterium-tritium (D-T) to neutron producing deuterium-deuterium (D-D) reactions (RDT/RDD) be used as a diagnostic of the fuel density-radius product (〈ρR〉) for initially tritium-free advanced fuel inertial confinement fusion targets. For deuterium targets, RDT/RDD ≈ 0,08 〈ρR〉 for fuel 〈ρR〉 ⪝ 0.1 g/cm2. For fuel of larger values of 〈ρR〉, thermalization of fusion product tritons in the fuel greatly alters the dependence of RDT/RDD on target characteristics.