The physics of inertial confinement fusion based on modern accelerators: status and perspectives

Energy and environment is the foundation of human social and economic development.Both the traditional fossil energy and the modern nuclear-fission energy always cause environment pollution, in addition that the sources will run out sooner or later. As a kind of clean, sustainable and enviriment-friendly energy sources, the controlled thermonuclear fusion energy, with sea-water as the source, is the most promising solution to the energy and environment problem. Intense laser or heavy ion beams are the important ways to achieve inertial confinement fusion. The National Ignition Facilities in US has got energy gain from fusion, while the Chinese ShengGuang laser fusion facilities, taking a gradual stread, has entered a critical stage. At the same time, as the developing of the modern accelerator technique and the lauching of laser scale heavy ion accelerator facility, the conditions for inertial fusion research based on accelerator facilities are gradually ripe and urgently need to be pushed forward. Here in this article, the status and perspectives for the studies of inertial confinement fusion based on modern accelerators are reported.