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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.
M. P. Mauldin, A. L. Greenwood, M. N. Kittelson, C. H. Shearer, J. N. Smith, Jr., D. M. Woodhouse
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 49 | Number 4 | May 2006 | Pages 842-845
Technical Paper | Target Fabrication | doi.org/10.13182/FST06-A1211
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Fast ignition is a concept that is being actively investigated in the HED community. The fast ignition targets described here are highly precise targets composed of a small glow discharge polymer (GDP) shell (~860 m diameter) mounted on a gold hyperboloid tipped cone. The process of creating these targets is composed of several steps. The first step consists of machining a copper cone that is then plated with a layer of gold approximately 120 m thick. Next, a hole is machined in a hollow GDP shell that will later be mounted on the gold gone. After the hole of this shell has been measured, the coated cone is machined to shape and to include a shelf so that the shell will sit at the desired location in relation to the tip of the cone. Finally, the copper mandrel is etched away from the gold and the target is assembled with the shell glued into place. At every step of this process, parts must be made and kept within tight specifications to meet the target requirements, not the least of which is that after assembly the shell center must be a specified distance from the gold cone tip with a tolerance of less than 10 m.