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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.
Satoshi Nakamoto, Yousuke Takeshita, Shota Hagihara, Takayuki Wada, Hiromasa Takeno, Yasuyoshi Yasaka, Yuichi Furuyama, Akira Taniike
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 68 | Number 1 | July 2015 | Pages 166-170
Technical Note | Open Magnetic Systems 2014 | doi.org/10.13182/FST14-900
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
With an aim to improve the total efficiency of a D-3He nuclear fusion direct energy conversion system, a secondary electron direct energy converter (SEDEC) is proposed. The incident high-energy protons in an SEDEC penetrate a large number of foil electrodes aligned in the direction of the proton beam, and emitted secondary electrons are recovered. The results of the initial experiments showed that most of the secondary electrons flowed into anteroposterior electrodes and did not arrive at the electron collector located alongside and perpendicular to the direction of the proton beam. A magnetic field was introduced to push the electrons toward the electron collector, but it was not effective for energy recovery. This technical note analyzes the trajectories of electrons in the presence of the magnetic field and proposes and examines a revised arrangement of permanent magnets. The arrangement of the magnets along one side of the proton beam greatly improved the energy recovery; however, the recovery level was lower than that without magnets.