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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.
Mary L. Spaeth, Kenneth R. Manes, M. Bowers, P. Celliers, J.-M. Di Nicola, P. Di Nicola, S. Dixit, G. Erbert, J. Heebner, D. Kalantar, O. Landen, B. MacGowan, B. Van Wonterghem, P. Wegner, C. Widmayer, S. Yang
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 69 | Number 1 | January-February 2016 | Pages 366-394
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST15-136
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser is the culmination of more than 40 years of work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory dedicated to the delivery of laser systems capable of driving experiments for the study of high-energy-density physics. Although NIF was designed to support a number of missions, it was clear from the beginning that its biggest challenge was to meet the requirements for pursuit of inertial confinement fusion. Meeting the Project Completion Criteria for NIF in 2009 and for the National Ignition Campaign (NIC) in 2012 included meeting the NIF Functional Requirements and Primary Criteria that were established for the project in 1994. During NIC and as NIF transitioned to a user facility, its goals were expanded to include requirements defined by the broader user community as well as by laser system designers and operators.