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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. Osakabe, Y. Takeiri, T. Morisaki, G. Motojima, K. Ogawa, M. Isobe, M. Tanaka, S. Murakami, A. Shimizu, K. Nagaoka, H. Takahashi, K. Nagasaki, H. Takahashi, T. Fujita, Y. Oya, M. Sakamoto, Y. Ueda, T. Akiyama, H. Kasahara, S Sakakibara, R. Sakamoto, M. Tokitani, H. Yamada, M. Yokoyama, Y. Yoshimura, LHD Experiment Group
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 72 | Number 3 | October 2017 | Pages 199-210
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1335145
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Achievement of reactor relevant plasma condition in Helical type magnetic devices and exploration in its related plasma physics and fusion engineering are the aim of the Large Helical Device (LHD) project. In the recent experiments on LHD, we have achieved ion-temperature of 8.1 keV at 1 × 1019 m−3 by the optimization of wall conditioning using long pulse discharge by Ion Cyclotron Heating (ICH). The electron temperature of 10 keV at 1.6 × 1019 m−3 was also achieved by the optimization of Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH). For further improvement in plasma performance, the upgrade of the Large Helical Device (LHD), including the deuterium experiment, is planned. In this paper, the recent achievements on LHD and the upgrade of LHD are described.