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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.
R. Herbermann, V. Albanese, A. Favale, S. Gralnick, R. Micich, J. Rathke, J. Rose, T. Anderson
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 8 | Number 1 | July 1985 | Pages 420-424
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-A40080
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper describes the conceptual design of a Fast Wave Current Drive (FWCD) alumina ceramic loaded coupler for the Princeton Large Torus (PLT). An antenna capable of launching RF at 800 MHz was required. While phased waveguide arrays allow the coupling of correctly phased waves to the plasma, their large size (when used in air or vacuum) would preclude their application for PLT. However, the utilization of a dielectric loaded waveguide results in a reduction in size of waveguide elements by the square root of the dielectric constant1,3. A description of the various approaches considered during the RF design, mechanical design, and component fabrication studies is included.