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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.
H. Yamada, Y. Suzuki, K. Ida, M. Yoshinuma, T. Kobuchi, K. Y. Watanabe, K. Tanaka, T. Tokuzawa, LHD Experimental Group
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 51 | Number 1 | January 2007 | Pages 138-143
Technical Paper | Stellarators | doi.org/10.13182/FST07-A1295
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Finite-beta equilibria with a double magnetic axis have been realized in the Large Helical Device (LHD). Since the rotational transform is weak in the central region of the LHD, the effect of an externally applied quadrupole field is more pronounced in the central region than in the periphery. Consequently, the magnetic axis splits due to a moderate elongation. In the case of vertical elongation, the figure-eight structure of the magnetic surfaces has been observed in a soft X-ray image. Degradation of confinement due to the appearance of the separatrix is suggested in the case of horizontal elongation, which is closely related to the equilibrium beta limit. The three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium code HINT, which does not assume the existence of nested flux surfaces, provides physical pictures consistent with the experimental observations.