Alpha Heating

Self-heating of the plasma by the energetic helium nuclei that fusion produces.

In D–T fusion the 3.5 MeV helium ('alpha') nucleus stays confined and deposits its energy back into the plasma. Strong alpha heating is what makes ignition possible; Kronos's driven design does not rely on it dominating.

In D–T fusion the 3.5 MeV helium nucleus stays confined and heats the plasma, and strong alpha heating is what makes ignition possible. Kronos's driven designs do not rely on alpha heating dominating, which is a deliberately conservative posture — the machine stays controllable because its power tracks the external heating.