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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.
Nathaniel J. Fisch (17R01)
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 51 | Number 2 | February 2007 | Pages 1-6
Technical Paper | Open Magnetic Systems for Plasma Confinement | doi.org/10.13182/FST07-A1303
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The alpha channeling effect in tokamaks exploits the higher population of high-energy alpha particles in the tokamak interior compared to that of low-energy alpha particles at the periphery. Because of the population inversion, it is possible to inject waves that diffuse resonant particles along diffusion paths connecting these regions, so that hot alpha particles diffuse to the periphery and cool at the same time. This effect has been suggested as a way of achieving considerably higher performance in tokamak fusion reactors, and similar possibilities might be expected in mirror reactors.