Deuterium–Helium-3 (D–³He) Fuel

D–³He is the reason the burner can convert energy directly to electricity. It trades a far cleaner neutron budget for a much hotter, harder-to-confine plasma.

Reaction

D + ³He → &sup4;He + p

Energy

18.3 MeV

Neutron fraction

5.44%

Temperature

~90 keV

Deuterium and helium-3 fuse to helium-4 and a proton, releasing 18.3 MeV as charged particles — which can be converted to electricity directly. The Kronos burner runs this reaction at about 90 keV with a neutron fraction of only 5.44%.

Because most of the energy is in charged particles, the burner uses direct energy conversion rather than a steam cycle. That is the architectural payoff of choosing this fuel.