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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.
H. Iida, D. A. Ehst, Y-K. M. Peng
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 4 | Number 2 | September 1983 | Pages 146-151
Plasma Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST83-A22859
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In the design of FED-A, quasi-steady state operation is conceived in which the plasma current is generated by the transformer coil in the burning phase and by the lower hybrid wave in the transformer-recharging phase. A parametric study was made to obtain optimum plasma and wave parameters in the recharging phase. The plasma current saturates when rf wave power increases. In order to avoid a hollow current distribution we should choose the rf power level which gives current saturation. The saturation current level is very sensitive to the width of the wave spectrum, The optimum plasma density and n11 should be determined so that the saturation current reaches to the required level and the efficiency is maximized for a given Δ n11.