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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.
J. M. Mack, A. A. Hauer, N. D. Delamater, W. W. Hsing, R. G. Watt, D. A. Baker, D. B. Harris, G. R. Magelssen, J. M. Wallace, L. Suter, D. Ress, L. Powers, O. Landen, R. Thiessen, D. Phillion, P. Amendt
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 26 | Number 3 | November 1994 | Pages 687-695
Inertial Confinement Experiment | Proceedings of the Eleventh Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy New Orleans, Louisiana June 19-23, 1994 | doi.org/10.13182/FST94-A40237
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Symmetric radiation drive is required for achieving ignition in laboratory experiments. Over the last two years, a concerted series of drive symmetry experiments have been performed on the Nova laser system. The goals of this work were to develop measurement techniques and to apply them to symmetry variation and control experiments. The emphasis in this initial work has been on time integrated measurements (integrated over the laser drive pulse). We have also begun work on methods for time resolved measurements. Most of our work used the symmetry signature impressed on the compressed core of a capsule imploded in a hohlraum (cylindrical canister) environment. X-ray imaging of this core provides a mapping that can be compared with theoretical modeling and related to a specific amount of drive asymmetry. This method is indirect and we have taken great care in understanding the formation of the symmetry signature and in its comparison with simulations. A review of drive symmetry measurement and control experiments is presented, including data from time integrated and time resolved measurements; these measurements are also compared to modeling. Under carefully controlled conditions results from symmetry measurements (and from other auxiliary measurements) are reproducible, and indicate that aspects of implosions symmetry can be controlled.