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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.
Haibo B. Chen, Brian Hilko, Jiong Chen, Emilio Panarella
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 27 | Number 3 | May 1995 | Pages 245-254
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST95-A30387
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The spherical pinch is an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) system modified by the inclusion of a preformed plasma in the center of a spherical vessel. The central plasma acts as a target for the imploding shock waves of the ICF. Upon compression by these shock waves, the central plasma attains temperatures higher and containment times longer than the ICF, thus facilitating the objective of fusion. The current study examined the spherical pinch as a source of useful radiation for applications that can go from testing mirrors for space exploration to the microscopy of biological specimens, paper radiography, and microlithography. This study was a continuation of previous work in which the radiation emission characteristics of the spherical pinch are theoretically studied. It included a detailed numerical simulation of the spherical pinch model as a radiation emitter in terms of density, pressure, temperature, and bremsstrahlung emission in the whole spectrum and in the soft X-ray region. A better understanding of the radiation production mechanism was thus gained from the current numerical study. Some indications on the usefulness of the concept for industrial applications are provided.