Solid deuterium pellet injection with a two-stage pneumatic gun

Recent results on injection of D2 pellets, using an improved light gas gun, are reported. In order to overcome the limits imposed by the low mechanical strength of solid hydrogen, a double-piston gun has been developed, in which the pressure pulse can be shaped in different ways, allowing reduction of the maximum acceleration of the pellet. Experiments have been performed with plastic and D2 pellets. Velocities above 2500 m/s have been obtained with unbroken D2 pellets.