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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.
Ross Radel, Gerald Kulcinski
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 52 | Number 3 | October 2007 | Pages 544-548
Technical Paper | The Technology of Fusion Energy - High Heat Flux Components | doi.org/10.13182/FST07-A1545
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The durability and lifetime of thin tungsten or refractory metal coatings on the first walls of inertial and magnetic confinement fusion reactors is a key issue for the feasibility of such devices. Past studies at UW-Madison have indicated that tungsten, when subjected to He+ fluences in excess of 4 × 1017 He+/cm2, shows extensive pore formation at 800 °C. The current study attempts to produce more realistic results by simultaneously irradiating tungsten samples with helium and hydrogen species and by investigating the effects of pulsed helium ion irradiation on tungsten.