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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.
Jaap Lok, Ronald Dam, Bart de Groot
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 38 | Number 2 | September 2000 | Pages 173-179
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST00-A140
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In addition to wave properties like polarization, harmonic number, high- or low-field side launching, and launch angle, absorption of electron cyclotron waves depends strongly on plasma parameters, such as the temperature. Therefore, we have introduced a new way of operating our 110-GHz gyrotron for electron cyclotron heating and electron cyclotron current-drive experiments. In the Rijnhuizen Tokamak Project (RTP), a system for feedback control of the plasma temperature by regulating the output of the gyrotron has come into operation recently. Other parameters, i.e., the Shafranov parameter = pol + li/2 - 1, and the loop voltage can be under feedback control as well. The control system is described and some test results are given.