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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.
C. L. Fiore, D. R. Ernst, J. E. Rice, K. Zhurovich, N. Basse, P. T. Bonoli, M. J. Greenwald, E. S. Marmar, S. J. Wukitch
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 51 | Number 3 | April 2007 | Pages 303-316
Technical Paper | Alcator C-Mod Tokamak | doi.org/10.13182/FST07-A1424
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Internal transport barriers (ITBs) marked by steep density and pressure profiles and reduction of core transport are obtained in Alcator C-Mod. Transient single barriers are observed at the back-transition from H- to L-mode and also when pellet injection is accompanied by ion cyclotron resonance frequency (ICRF) power. Double barriers are induced with injection of off-axis ICRF power deposition. These also arise spontaneously in ohmic H-mode plasmas when the H-mode lasts for several energy confinement times. C-Mod provides a unique platform for studying such discharges: The ions and electrons are tightly coupled by collisions with Ti/Te = 1, and the plasma has no internal particle or momentum sources. ITB plasmas with average pressure greater than 1 atm have been obtained. To form an ITB, particle and thermal flux are reduced in the barrier region, allowing the neoclassical pinch to peak the density while maintaining the central temperature. Gyrokinetic simulation suggests that long-wavelength drift wave turbulence in the core is marginally stable at the ITB onset, but steepening of the density profile destabilizes trapped electron modes (TEMs) inside the barrier. The TEM ultimately drives sufficient outgoing particle flux to balance the inward pinch and halt further density rise, which allows control of particle and impurity peaking.