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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.
J. H. Degnan, W. L. Baker, M. L. Alme, C. Boyer, J. S. Buff, J. D. Beason, C. J. Clouse, S. K. Coffey, D. Dietz, M. H. Frese, J. D. Graham, D. J. Hall, J. L. Holmes, E. A. Lopez, R. E. Peterkin, Jr., D. W. Price, N. F. Roderick, S. W. Seiler, C. R. Sovinec, P. J. Turchi
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 27 | Number 2 | March 1995 | Pages 115-123
Experimental Device | Special Section: Pulsed High-Density Systems | doi.org/10.13182/FST95-A30368
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Electromagnetic implosions of shaped cylindrical aluminum liners that remain at solid density are discussed. The approximate liner parameters have an initial radius of 3 to 4 cm, are 4 cm in height, and are ∼0.1 cm thick. The liners are driven by the Shiva Star 1300-µf capacitor bank at an 84-kV charging voltage and an ∼30-nH total initial inductance (including implosion load). The discharge current travels along the length of the liner and rises to 14 MA in ∼8 µs. The implosion time is ∼12 µs. Diagnostics include inductive current and capacitive voltage probes, magnetic probes, and radiography. Both right-circular cylinder and conical liner implosion data are displayed and discussed. Radiography indicates implosion behavior substantially consistent with two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic calculations, which predict inner surface implosion velocities exceeding 20 km/s, and compressed density of two to three times solid density. Less growth of perturbations is evident for the conical liner (∼1% thickness tolerance) than for the right-circular cylindrical liner (∼3% thickness tolerance).