The direct converter's efficiency is the fourth-ranked parameter in the burner's sensitivity study: it moves the engineering gain by about 1.4x across its range, with a comfortable window of 0.586 to 0.80. It matters, but it is not the knob that reaches net electricity.
Sweeping the converter efficiency moves the gain by a factor of 1.4 — meaningful, but far below the factor-of-11 swing the plug density ratio produces. The window within 10% of the reference spans 0.586 to 0.80, so the converter has real operating room without being the binding constraint.
Knowing where the converter ranks tells the programme how hard to push it. The converter must be good, and electron direct conversion must be demonstrated, but the sensitivity study is clear that the plug ratio — not converter efficiency — is the parameter closure hinges on.
| Converter efficiency rank | 4th of 10 |
| Gain span | ~1.4x across range |
| Window | 0.586-0.80 |
| Versus plug ratio | x11 swing (dominant) |
| Gate status | electron DEC still required |