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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.
Yoshiki Murakami*, Masayoshi Sugihara
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 24 | Number 4 | December 1993 | Pages 375-390
Technical Paper | Plasma Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST93-A30188
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Steady-state and hybrid-mode operation of a tokamak fusion reactor is investigated by power balance calculations, and operation points are optimized with respect to divertor heat load. The dependence of the divertor heat load on a variety of models is also discussed. Several schemes to reduce the heat load are investigated, and the goal of physics research and development is clarified. Hybrid-mode operation appears to be suitable for technology testing, which requires a long burn time and a high neutron wall load. The divertor heat load can be reduced to the ignition-mode level without impurity seeding if the energy confinement is enhanced by 10%. The relation between the divertor heat load and the controllability of the current profile, that is, the fraction of the beam-driven current, is also discussed.