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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. A. Frederick, C. A. Back, A. Nikroo, M. Takagi
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 51 | Number 4 | May 2007 | Pages 647-650
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST07-A1458
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Target design for the National Ignition Facility requires either a glass or polyimide (PI) fill tube. To study the hydrodynamic effects that are introduced by a fill tube during capsule implosion, fill tube targets were fabricated for experiments at the Z-Pinch facility. Three and four fill tube targets were designed and fabricated to maximize data during each experiment. Targets were made with PI and glass fill tubes on the same capsule to study the shadowing differences between glass and plastic fill tubes. Four tube targets were fabricated with diameters ranging from 10-45 m to study the effect diameter has on implosion characteristics. Capsules were coated with a germanium-doped layer of glow discharge polymer. Blind holes were drilled in the capsules using an excimer laser. Fill tubes were fabricated using modified capillary pullers and assembly was done on a specially designed assembly station designed for fill tube fabrication. Targets were characterized by optical microscopy and by micron resolution x-ray tomography.