Editing Inertial confinement fusion (section)

=== Nuclear weapons ===
The hot and dense conditions encountered during an ICF experiment are similar to those in a thermonuclear weapon, and have applications to nuclear weapons programs. When energy is put into the fuel pellets, the result is shock-wave explosions. With enough shock waves, the fuel pellets combine to form helium, and a [[Free neutron decay|free neutron]] and energy is released. ICF experiments might be used, for example, to help determine how warhead performance degrades as it ages, or as part of a weapons design program. Retaining knowledge and expertise inside the nuclear weapons program is another motivation for pursuing ICF.<ref>[[Richard Garwin]], Arms Control Today, 1997</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://lasers.llnl.gov/science |title=Science |publisher=Lasers.llnl.gov |access-date=2014-08-24}}</ref> Funding for the NIF in the United States is sourced from the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship program, whose goals are oriented accordingly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lasers.llnl.gov/science/stockpile-stewardship |title=Stockpile Stewardship |publisher=Lasers.llnl.gov |access-date=2014-08-24}}</ref> It has been argued that some aspects of ICF research violate the [[Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty]] or the [[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Makhijani |first1=Arjun |first2=Hisham |last2=Zerriffi |url=http://www.ieer.org/reports/fusion/chap5.html |title=Dangerous Thermonuclear Quest |publisher=Ieer.org |date=1998-07-15 |access-date=2014-08-23}}</ref> In the long term, despite the formidable technical hurdles, ICF research could lead to the creation of a "[[pure fusion weapon]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.princeton.edu/~globsec/publications/pdf/7_2Jones.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309102658/http://www.princeton.edu/~globsec/publications/pdf/7_2Jones.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Jones and von Hippel, Science and Global security, 1998, Volume 7 p129-150|archivedate=March 9, 2008}}</ref>