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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.
Takayoshi Norimatsu, Keiji Nagai, Tetsuji Takeda, Kunioki Mima, Tatsuhiko Yamanaka
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 43 | Number 3 | May 2003 | Pages 339-345
Technical Paper | Targets and Target Protection During Injection | doi.org/10.13182/FST03-A276
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
To create a conceptual design of a tracking system of a target injected into a wet-walled, laser-fusion reactor, the influence of residual gas on the target trajectory is discussed based on a kinetic model, assuming all of the impinging molecules are adsorbed on the target surface. The model targets are a high-gain target for central ignition and a fast-ignition target with a cone as an optical guide for an additional heating laser. In the case of a fast-ignition target, tracking in the reactor might be skipped, depending on its condition, because of the heavy cone. Recent activities in fabrication of the fast-ignition target are briefly mentioned.