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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.
Robert E. Price, Geoffrey W. Shuy, James T. Woo
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 10 | Number 3 | November 1986 | Pages 1412-1417
Machine Upgrades and Next-Generation Devices | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24926
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In the present scenario for the development of magnetic confinement fusion, the availability of tritium needed to fuel a D-T burning plasma in order to generate 14 MeV neutrons for material and system component testing is not being fully addressed. An alternate approach based on the in situ generation of tritium in a driven D-D reacting plasma is proposed. The feasibility of this approach to attain 14 MeV neutron flux levels comparable with D-T fueled burning plasma from a modest beta, first generation fusion power reactor can be established from known results. A staged scenario, is described in which tritium bred from developmental blankets is used to fuel the system to incrementally raise the neutron wall loading to simulate more advanced fusion reactors.