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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.
Rodolfo Carrera, Elena Montalvo, James W. Van Dam, Guo-Yong Fu, Lee M. Hively, George H. Miley, Marshall N. Rosenbluth, Steven Tamor
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 18 | Number 4 | December 1990 | Pages 535-555
Alpha Particles in Fusion Research | doi.org/10.13182/FST90-A29246
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A simple fusion experiment for the production and control of deuterium-tritium-ignited plasmas for scientific study is considered. The basic elements of fusion product alpha-particle behavior at ignition are analyzed. Alpha-particle containment is rather high even with the assumption of significant levels of toroidal asymmetries. Production of thermally stable plasmas is possible because of the low-beta thermal damping provided by electron cyclotron emission. The stability of internal kink modes, high-number ballooning modes, and toroidicity-induced shear Alfvén eigenmodes is investigated in the presence of fusion alpha particles. These modes can be either stable or unstable depending on the selected operational regime at ignition.