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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.
Sergei V. Ryzhkov (20R13)
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 51 | Number 2 | February 2007 | Pages 190-192
Technical Paper | Open Magnetic Systems for Plasma Confinement | doi.org/10.13182/FST07-A1347
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Field reversed configurations (FRC), as mirror machines have been developed as simple plasma confinement systems. FRC formed by reversing of magnetic field and reconnection and sustained by plasma current. Several mirrors may be linked together with solenoids - tandem mirrors (TM), end losses in the axisymmetric tandem mirror are reduced by ambipolar trapping - ambipolar trap (AT). Power balance of deuterium - helium-3 (D-3He) plasma in a prolate FRC power plant is compared with the power balance for a central cell of D-3He tandem mirror reactor (ambipolar trap). Deuterium - tritium (D-T) ITER, kinetically stabilized tandem mirror (KSTM) and D-3He FRC parameters are demonstrated.
