[ckilmer]

If my casual reading of the fusion T + D = 4He + n + 17.6 MeV reaction is correct, a neutron is also released.
................
Isn’t that neutron what’s supposed to heat the shield that heats the coolant that drives the turbine to produce more electricity for the laser.

Presumably the shield absorbs all the neutrons. who would want to fly in a machine that bombarded them with radioactive neutrons.

[doorgunner69]

Yes, you would hope the shield absorbs them all, and that any fission that goes on in the U-238 is very low level.

Ya know the biggest hydrogen nukes used a blanket of U-238 on the fusion secondary to add a huge kick of fission to the last stage. What they called a "dirty" bomb. Got to make some of the old bomb designers chuckle at this scheme.

Still, think I may pass on flying the fusion airways. Doubt I will live that long anyways.

[TexasGator]

“radioactive neutrons”

Technically, neutrons can be a form of radiation but are not themselves radioactive.