D-3He fusion in an inertial electrostatic confinement device

Advanced fusion fuels, D and ³He, have been successfully fused in an inertial electrostatic confinement device at the University of Wisconsin. It is thought that this is the first known fusion of helium-3 with deuterium on a steady state basis. The detection of 14.7 MeV protons has confirmed the reaction of D-³He fusion, and has produced a continuous, charged particle flux in excess of 1.4×10⁵ protons/s. Using the same device with D-D fuel a neutron rate of 2.2×10⁷ was achieved. Operating parameters that affect the reaction rate are discussed