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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
Melvin H. Miles, Benjamin F. Bush, Joseph J. Lagowski
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 25 | Number 4 | July 1994 | Pages 478-486
Technical Paper | Nuclear Reaction in Solid | doi.org/10.13182/FST94-A30255
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Previous experiments showed that eight electrolysis gas samples collected during episodes of excess power production in two identical cells contained measurable amounts of 4He while six control samples gave no evidence for helium. However, the detection limit for helium could not be defined clearly. This study of helium diffusion into the Pyrex glass sample flasks establishes a minimum helium detection limit of 3 × 1013 atom/500 ml (3 ppb) for these experiments. New D2O and H2O control experiments involving helium measurements of electrolysis gas samples collected in metal flasks support this conclusion. This places the 4He production rate at 1011 to 1012 atom/s per watt of excess power, which is the correct magnitude for typical fusion reactions that yield helium as a product. Simultaneous evidence for excess power, helium production, and anomalous radiation was present in these experiments. Completely new experiments with more precise helium measurements are reported that again show simultaneous evidence for excess power, helium production, and anomalous radiation.