be used if nuclear energy is to become the alternative to fossil fuels. Breeders convert the 238U to 239Pu (plutonium) which then undergoes fission to produce energy. A term commonly used by designers of breeders is the concept of doubling time. Waltar and Reynolds17 define reactor doubling time as "the time required for a particular breeder reactor to produce enough fissile material in excess of its own fissile inventory to fuel an additional reactor", and this time is on the order of 15 to 20 years. Thus, a breeder program akin to the French would already have to be in place if breeder reactors are going to make up the energy shortfall in the future. This is because most countries are exploiting their uranium resources in burners, and by the time breeders would be deployed, sufficient amount of 235U would not be available to breed the 238U. Nuclear fusion power has several advantages over fission. There is no danger of melt-downs, radioactive wastes are short-lived, and the deuterium or tritium fuel can be extracted from sea water. Furth18 reports that the ratio of fusion output
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