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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.
T. Urano, T. Watanabe, T. Mitsui, T. Takahashi
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 63 | Number 1 | May 2013 | Pages 383-385
doi.org/10.13182/FST13-A16962
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In order to generate a toroidal field in field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma, a poloidal current drive by axial neutral beam injection (NBI) is investigated analytically and numerically. Species of neutral beam particle are hydrogen and helium. Feasibility for two types of injection geometry, injection along the geometric axis and to near the separatrix, is tested. Since all beam ions are lost directly through the device end, more than 12-kA beam current is needed to improve electron confinement near the separatrix. On the other hand, it is found that low energy (about 200 eV) beam ions can be confined for injection to near the separatrix. Present calculation of the beam ion orbit shows possibility of poloidal current drive and toroidal field generation by axial NBI into an FRC plasma.