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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.
Thomas C. Simonen, Archer H. Futch, Thomas B. Kaiser
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 14 | Number 2 | September 1988 | Pages 329-338
Technical Paper | Plasma Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST88-A20265
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Several system studies have concluded that the small size and steady-state nature of magnetic mirror systems provide attractive features for nuclear testing applications such as blanket testing, fissile fuel production, tritium production, or decontamination of high-level radioactive nuclear reactor wastes. A summary of the data base is presented, and next-generation experiments that could be carried out to explore plasma physics issues associated with the production of high neutron fluxes in magnetic mirror configurations are described.