Scheme of DT target with berylium ablator.

The surface of a sphere with frozen fusion fuel, which is vaporized by radiation during laser-driven fusion. Ablator is usually a thin plastic membrane (CH polymer), but glass or beryllium could also be used. After being hit by lasers or intense X-ray radiation, the ablator will vaporize. While the vaporized ablator envelope expands, according to the action-reaction principle, the interior of the fuel target is compressed until fusion can take place in its centre.