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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.
Masaru Takagi, Kyle Saito, Christopher Frederick, Abbas Nikroo, Robert Cook
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 51 | Number 4 | May 2007 | Pages 638-642
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST51-638
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We have developed a technique for drawing commercially available polyimide tubing to the required fill tube dimensions. The tubes are then precisely cut with an Excimer laser to produce a clean, flat tip. We have also demonstrated that one can use the Excimer laser to drill less than a 5 m diameter through hole in the ~150 wall of a NIF dimension GDP shell, and can then create a 10-15 m diameter, 20-40 m deep counterbore centered on the through hole with the same laser. Using a home built assembly station the tube is carefully inserted into the counterbore and glued in place with UV-cure epoxy, using a LED UV source to avoid heating the joint. We expect that the same joining technique can be used for Be shells.