The invention is for a system and method to reduce neutron production from a deuterium-helium-3 (D-3He) fueled, steady-state, small nuclear fusion reactor. The reactor employs a field-reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic confinement scheme and an odd-parity rotating magnetic field (RMFo) that produces periodic, co-streaming, energetic ion beams which heat the plasma. This is accomplished through radio-frequency (RF) heating, which can effectively heat and maintain the plasma. Use of this method will lessen damage to and activation of reactor components and, in doing so, can advance the development of fusion reactors for electrical, power and propulsion applications by alleviating the need for both nuclear-materials and tritium-breeding-technology testing programs.