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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.
T. D. Kaladze, K. N. Stepanov
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 18 | Number 3 | November 1990 | Pages 487-495
Alpha Particles in Fusion Research | Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST90-A29284
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Damping of small-scale fast magnetosonic waves (FMSWs) in large tokamak plasmas due to cyclotron absorption by a small group of resonance alpha particles (products of the thermonuclear fusion) is determined on the basis of a nonlocal approach. Such a nonlocal approach for the separate modes of a FMSW gives the same expression for the damping coefficient (except for special cases) as obtained in the local approach, although the distribution of high-frequency fields in the cyclotron resonance range may differ greatly. The cyclotron absorption of these waves by alpha particles may be essential, and it competes with electron Cherenkov absorption and cyclotron absorption by ions of other species during plasma heating and maintenance of the current in reactor tokamaks by means of FMSWs.