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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.
Cheng Zhang*, Francesco Romanelli
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 25 | Number 2 | March 1994 | Pages 147-163
Technical Paper | Plasma Heating System | doi.org/10.13182/FST94-A30264
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An analysis of the neutral beam (NB) current drive for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is performed. The NB deposition profile for a model elliptic equilibrium is evaluated for arbitrary density profiles. Multistep ionization is accounted for. The NB current density is calculated by using an approximate solution of the Fokker-Planck equation. A parameter scan is performed by changing electron density, plasma temperature, the plasma effective ionic charge Zeff, beam energy Eb, beam mass number, beam section, and tangency radius of the beam center. The largest values of the current drive figure of merit γNB = INBnR/P are obtained for the largest beam energy. The obtained value of γNB for the ITER reference scenario is γNB = 0.6 for Eb = 1.3 MeV and Zeff = 2.
