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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.
N. A. Uckan
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 1076-1081
Plasma Heating and Current Drive — II | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39835
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The confinement capability of the INTOR plasma for achieving ignition and noninductively driven, Q > 5 steady-state operation has been assessed for various energy confinement scaling laws and current drive schemes by using a global power balance model. Plasma operation contours are used to illustrate the boundaries of the operating regimes in density-temperature (n-T) space. Results of the analysis indicate a very restricted capability (if any) for ignition and a limited flexibility in driven modes of operation in the INTOR (8-MA) design. Nearly a factor of two increase in plasma current (through stronger plasma shaping) could improve the feasibility of ignition in INTOR.