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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.
A. Hagnestål, O. Ågren, V. E. Moiseenko
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 59 | Number 1 | January 2011 | Pages 217-219
doi.org/10.13182/FST11-A11614
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A vacuum magnetic field from a superconducting coil set for a single cell minimum-B mirror-based fission-fusion reactor is computed. The magnetic field is optimized for MHD stability, ellipticity and field smoothness. A recirculation region and wide magnetic expanders on both sides are provided to the central mirror cell. A coil set producing this field is computed which consists of circular and quadrupolar coils. Basic scaling assumptions are made for the coil dimensions, based on a maximum allowed current density of 1.5 kA/cm2 for superconducting coils. Sufficient space is available for a fission mantle. The field produced by the coils is checked for MHD plasma stability and maximum ellipticity. The resulting confinement region is 25 m long with a 40 cm midplane plasma radius.