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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.
Y. Yoshimura, T. Akiyama, M. Isobe, A. Shimizu, C. Suzuki, C. Takahashi, K. Nagaoka, S. Nishimura, T. Minami, K. Matsuoka, S. Okamura, CHS Group, S. Kubo, T. Shimozuma, H. Igami, T. Notake, T. Mutoh
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 53 | Number 1 | January 2008 | Pages 54-61
Technical Paper | Special Issue on Electron Cyclotron Wave Physics, Technology, and Applications - Part 2 | doi.org/10.13182/FST08-A1652
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Second-harmonic electron cyclotron (EC) current drive experiments have been performed in the Compact Helical System (CHS). The driven current changes its direction according to the change of the EC-wave beam direction in agreement with an expectation from the Fisch and Boozer theory in the case of low-field-side injection of EC waves. The EC-driven current varies as a function of the magnetic axis position of CHS plasmas. The cause of the variation was experimentally investigated by a magnetic field scan. Setting the second-harmonic resonance layer near the magnetic axis was favorable to maximize the total EC-driven current. The main cause of the dependence of the driven current on the magnetic axis position is attributed to the change of distribution of the magnetic field along the beam path due to the change of the beam direction to aim at the magnetic axis in the three-dimensional helical magnetic field of the CHS.