Brian H wrote: From Talk-Polywell, this proposal:
http://www.talk-polywell.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1944&highlight=beams+wiffleball+beta+electron
Starts with Thorium230, proceeds on to alpha-beta emitting decay products. Lasts 100 years.

This whole thing strikes me as a theoretical method to make neutronic fusion actually useful, even though it really isn’t.

It’s much easier to create a Th-232/U232 breeder directly. In fact, the US built one in the 1960’s; they are inherently safe, can’t melt down (because the fuel is already liquid salt), and produce virtually zero long-term waste. So why do we need the extra neutrons from D-T fusion to run that cycle? We don’t. But the D-T boys need something for their neutrons to do, besides creating another long-term waste headache.