Orbiting fusion reactors (was: Mirrors versus diffuse reflection)

>
> In particular, in orbit you could implement fusion reactor designs that are
> basically unviable on Earth. For example, one could build what I call a
> "mass drive-powered fusion reactor". Instead of fighting to tame a plasma

[snip]

> the hydrogen, converting the droplets in a micro-nuke. Of course the tiny
> explosions would occur inside a hollow sphere of tungsten or whatever, and
> the sphere would become red-hot, and the heat could be used to produce steam
> and move turbines, just like in a conventional atomic power plant.
>

Last I heard, the showstopper with fusion is the firtst layer of
physical contianment.
The neutron flux physically erodes all known materials rather quickly.

Debris from the container drifts into the plasma cloud causing it to
instantly collapse.