ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Feb 2026
Jul 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
January 2026
Latest News
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.
M. E. Fenstermacher, R. S. Devoto, R. H. Bulmer, J. D. Lee, J. R. Miller, J. H. Schultz
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 740-745
Plasma Heating and Current Drive-I | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39784
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The physics and engineering guidelines for the ITER device are shown to lead to viable physics operating points for a steady state tokamak power reactor. Non-inductive current drive is provided in steady state by high energy neutral beam injection in the plasma core, lower hybrid slow waves in the outer regions of the plasma and bootstrap current. Plasma gain Q (≡ fusion power/input power) in excess of 20 and average neutron wall loading, <Γ> ≈2.0 MW/m2 are predicted in a device with major radius, R0 = 7.5 m and minor radius, a = 2.8 m.