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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.
Robin Miles, Allan Chang, Francesco Fornasiero, Mark Havstad, Sergei Kucheyev, Mary Leblanc, Paul Rosso, Greg Schebler
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 66 | Number 2 | October 2014 | Pages 343-348
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST14-779
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Inertial fusion energy (IFE) targets injected into fusion chambers must withstand the demanding acceleration forces and the intense thermal environment of the fusion chamber. For indirect targets, the ultrathin capsule support membrane is the target component that is most sensitive to acceleration forces. Maintaining the deuterium-tritium (DT) temperature, to prevent a significant increase in DT vapor pressure, is the most critical thermal requirement. Secondarily, material selection of the high-temperature laser entrance hole window is required. This paper briefly describes how these requirements are satisfied for a laser-driven IFE plant design.