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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.
William J. Hogan
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 19 | Number 3 | May 1991 | Pages 599-607
Overview | doi.org/10.13182/FST91-A29412
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Recent NAS and FPAC reviews of the ICF Program contain recommendations that, if implemented, will greatly impact the ICF Program. Target physics studies and experiments have indicated that ignition and gain may be achieved with 1.5 to 2.0 MJ of driver energy. It has, therefore, been recommended that the Nova facility be upgraded to this energy and undertake ignition experiments by the end of the decade. A specific set of target physics, driver development, and target fabrication milestones have been recommended leading to this facility and to the ignition experiments. Similar recommendations were made concerning the OMEGA Upgrade, the Nike laser, heavy ion reactor driver development and IFE reactor technology. Carrying out these recommendations successfully would lead to major ICF decisions about an LMF for military applications and an ETF for energy applications about the year 2000.