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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.
Kazunobu Nagasaki, Sakuji Kobayashi, Kinzo Sakamoto, Hideki Zushi, Tokuhiro Obiki, Kunizo Ohkubo, Minoru Kawaguchi, Gregory G. Denisov, Arkady L. Goldenberg, Vadim I. Kurbatov, Viktor B. Orlov, Dmitry V. Vinogradov
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 32 | Number 2 | September 1997 | Pages 287-295
Technical Paper | Plasma Heating System | doi.org/10.13182/FST97-A19898
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A 106-GHz electron cyclotron heating system is installed and operated for plasma production and heating of the Heliotron-E helical device. The Gaussian beam radiated from the gyrotron is coupled to the HE11 waveguide mode by the matching optics unit (MOU), then transmitted through 15-m corrugated waveguides and four miter bends. The system is closed for safety to prevent spurious modes from radiating into the free space and is operated at atmospheric pressure. The transmitted wave is launched from the outside of the torus, and the launched beam is focused on the magnetic axis so that the power deposition is expected to be localized at the desired resonance region. The measured transmission efficiency from the MOU output to the launcher output is 86%, which is in good agreement with the theoretical estimate. The power losses arise mainly at the waveguide mouth where the Gaussian beam is coupled to the HE11 mode, at the miter bends and in the launching system.