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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.
H. Kislev, B. J. Micklich
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 8 | Number 1 | July 1985 | Pages 1878-1883
Inertial Confinement Fusion Reactor | Proceedings of the Sixth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (San Francisco, California, March 3-7, 1985) | doi.org/10.13182/FST85-A40035
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A Light-Ion-Beam (LIB) driven ICF reactor design with pressurized boiling water inside the target chamber is proposed, and several advantages and disadvantages of this concept are examined. For initial chamber pressures in the range of 5.106 – 1.4 · 107 Pa a density reduction of 1:100 in the vapor (steam) is required for adequate LIB propagation. This is achieved through the use of two consecutive laser pulses. Calculations of the laser energy required, the time histories of the physical properties inside the channels, and the effects of various radial energy deposition profiles are discussed. The results show that the required density reduction can be obtained with an energy requirement of 5–20 kJ/m/channel. A solution to the problem of cryogenic pellet injection in the high-pressure reactor environment is also suggested.