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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.
A. A. Ivanov et al.
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 63 | Number 1 | May 2013 | Pages 217-220
doi.org/10.13182/FST13-A16909
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The development of fusion energy will require materials resilient to harsh bombardment by energetic plasma. Linear plasma devices are widely used to examine such materials by simulating power loads and particle fluxes, which are envisaged for the future reactor grade plasma devices. To correctly simulate these conditions, the plasma in the simulator should be running continuously and have high enough density, 1019m-3 or higher. A good candidate to produce such a plasma is a helicon plasma source. This paper reviews a helicon plasma source, which is under development in collaboration between the Budker Institute and Forshungzentrum Juelich, in perspective of its application at the JULE-PSI device.