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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.
M. R. Wade, J. T. Hogan, D. L. Hillis, R. Maingi†, M. M. Menon, K. H. Burrell, R. J. Grocbncr, M. A. Mahdavi, W. P. West, D. F. Finkenthal‡, the DIII-D Team
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 26 | Number 3 | November 1994 | Pages 595-602
Divertor Experiment and Technology | Proceedings of the Eleventh Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy New Orleans, Louisiana June 19-23, 1994 | doi.org/10.13182/FST94-A40222
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A better understanding of helium transport in the plasma core and edge in enhanced confinement regimes is now emerging from recent experimental studies on DIII-D. Overall, the results are encouraging with significant helium exhaust obtained in a diverted, ELMing H-mode plasma, with and transport studies indicating that DHe/χeff ∼ 1 in all plasma conditions studied to date. However, measurements in the core and pumping plenum show a significant dilution of helium as it flows from the plasma core to the pumping plenum. Such dilution could be the limiting factor in the overall removal rate of helium in a reactor system.