How nuclear fusion works (2) - confinement, stars, nukes, inertial fusion energy

Explaning the challenge of confining a thermonuclear plasma to achieving fusion. A look at fusion inside stars, the workings of thermonuclear weapons and the peaceful pursuit of inertial confinement fusion energy.

Contents
00:00 - Introduction
00:42 - Plasma confinement
06:00 - Cross sections
09:36 - Deuterium-Tritium fuel cycle
10:57 - Thermonuclear weapons
13:33 - Inertial fusion energy
17:34 - Reactor challenges
23:13 - Wrap-up

References
[1] Highlights from SDO's ten years of solar observation by NASA,
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13524
[2] Drawing by B. B. Kadomtsev
[3] Cross section diagram of the solar interior by Kelvin Ma (User: Kelvin13)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/....wiki/File:The_solar_
[4] Green plasma in xenon-nitrogen mixture by Carl Willis,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv9txBM9U5E
[5] J. P. Freidberg, “Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy” (CUP, 2008). ISBN: 9780521733175
[6] https://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/interior.shtml
[7] H. L. Mayer, “Opacity Calculations, Past and Future” Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 4, 585 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-4073(64)90020-2
[8] “Sunbeam” by Randall Munroe,
https://what-if.xkcd.com/141/
[9] https://www.energy.gov/orem/cleanup-sites
[10] Photograph by Korean Central News Agency
[11] G. McCracken, P. Stott “Fusion: The Energy of the Universe” (Academic Press, 2012). ISBN: 9780123846563
[12] B. A. Remington et al., “Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in high-energy density settings on the National Ignition Facility” PNAS 116, 18233 (2019).
[13] J. D. Kilkenny et al., “The Role of the National Ignition Facility in Energy Production from Inertial Fusion” Philosophical Transactions: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 357, 533, (The Royal Society, 1999).
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1999.0340
[14] HiPER Project website, http://www.hiper-laser.org/index.html
[15] LIFE Project website (now defunct), accessed through the Wayback Machine,
https://web.archive.org/web/20....140305100306/https:/
[16] “Simulation of a shock wave striking a gas-filled cavity”, First Light Fusion website,
https://firstlightfusion.com/t....echnology/#our-appro
[17] Kyle Pearce (User: keepitsurreal) on flickr
https://flickr.com/photos/14558526@N03/31634031395
[18] Y. Mori et al., “10-J Green DPSSL-pumped Laser System HAMA for High-repetitive Counter Irradiation Fast Heating Fusion Demonstration”, Proceedings of the IAEA 24th Fusion Energy Conference (2012).
[19] E. R. Koresheva, “High rep-rate fabrication, characterization & delivery of free-standing moving cryogenic targets: overview on researches developed at LPI”, 2nd European Target Fabrication Workshop, October 27-28, 2008, Abingdon, UK.
[20] D. Goodin, “Target Fabrication and Injection Challenges in Developing an IFE Reactor”, General Atomics Presentation, January 30, 2011.