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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.
T. Watanabe, S. Masuzaki, Y. Nakamura, LHD Experimental Group, H. Hojo (20R02)
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 51 | Number 2 | February 2007 | Pages 147-149
Technical Paper | Open Magnetic Systems for Plasma Confinement | doi.org/10.13182/FST07-A1336
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Open field line region plays the key role for steady state operation of the Large Helical Device (LHD) and greatly contributes to the high-performance plasma confinement in the LHD. Chaotic field line region, produced by high magnetic shear and nonaxisymmetry of the magnetic field, is present in open field line re gion outside the last closed flux surface (LCFS) of the LHD. The chaotic field line layer can sustain ambient plasma due to the long connection length of lines of force, presence of the embedded magnetic islands and mirror confinement effect of helical ripple nature of the magnetic field. This ambient plasma plays a role of an impregnable barrier for the core plasma, which suppresses both the MHD instabilities and the cooling of the core plasma due to charge exchange processes. Slow and small periodic sweeping of magnetic axis po sition can control the deconcentration of divertor heat flux in the LHD.