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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.
Nolan E. Hertel, R. H. Johnsons, Bernard W. Wehring, John J. Dorning
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 9 | Number 2 | March 1986 | Pages 345-361
Technical Paper | Blanket Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24721
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Integral experiments have been performed using a homogeneous iron spherical shell to test neutron cross-section data. Neutron leakage spectra from the shell were measured using 252Cf-fission and (deuterium-tritium) D-T-fusion neutron sources and an NE-213 spectrometry system. An associated particle detector was used to monitor the absolute D-T neutron source strength as well as any accompanying deuterium-deuterium neutron contamination. The leakage spectra were calculated using the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code VIM and the discrete ordinates Sn code ANISN employing ENDF/B-IV. For neutron energies between 1 and 5 MeV, the calculations underpredicted the leakage spectrum by factors of 1.4 to 2 for the californium neutron source and of 2 to 3 for the D-T neutron source. The large discrepancies are attributed to inadequate representation of cross-section resonance structure (namely, minima); inadequate representation of the angular and secondary energy distributions for continuum inelastic scattering and (n,2n) reactions also contribute to these discrepancies.