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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.
D. L. Jassby
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 13 | Number 3 | March 1988 | Pages 463-472
Technical Paper | Alpha-Particle Workshop / Nonelectrical Application | doi.org/10.13182/FST88-A25124
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Helium-3 placed in an annular cell or array of cells around a tokamak fusion generator can convert moderated fusion neutrons to energetic ions by the 3He(n, p)T reaction and thereby excite gaseous lasants mixed with the 3He while simultaneously breeding tritium. The required 3He inventory is ∼ 5 kg for large tokamak devices. Special configurations of toroidal field magnets, neutron moderators, and reflectors must be incorporated to maximize the neutron flux in the laser cell. The annular laser radiation can be coupled to an unstable resonator at the top of the tokamak and extracted as a single output beam.