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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.
D. J. Hoffman, F. W. Baity, W. R. Becraft†, J. B. O. Caughman‡, T. L. Owens
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 8 | Number 1 | July 1985 | Pages 411-419
Electrical and Nuclear Component Design | Proceedings of the Sixth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (San Francisco, California, March 3-7, 1985) | doi.org/10.13182/FST85-A40079
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) is expected to become the dominant contributor to the supplemental heating needs of plasmas in future toroidal devices. The severity of the environments that will be imposed on the ICRH antennas by the plasma in such devices requires the investigation of different approaches to providing adequate life and reliability in addition to the necessary coupling. This work, which is part of the National Ion Cyclotron Heating Program, addresses these issues. The rf coupling capabilities and characteristics of various antennas have been measured. The tested antenna configurations include the simple loop antenna operated at resonant lengths as used on Alcator-C, the cavity antenna proposed for Doublet III-D, and the resonant double loop, asymmetric resonant double loop, and U-slot antennas. Models of the voltage, magnetic fields outside the structure, and current have been correlated with the measurements made on these antennas. From these measurements and from typical observations of ICRH coupling in tokamaks, we are studying power and frequency limitations on each antenna and the causes of the limitations. A comparison of the technology, performance, and power limitations of each type of antenna is presented.