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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.
Robert N. Morris, R. H. Fowler, James A. Rome, T. J. Schlagel
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 12 | Number 2 | September 1987 | Pages 281-292
Plasma Heating Systems | doi.org/10.13182/FST87-A11963786
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The application of the existing Impurity Study Experiment (ISX-B) neutral beam injectors for the Advanced Toroidal Facility is studied. New techniques are required to handle the complicated stellarator geometry of both the vacuum vessel and the plasma. The power delivered to the plasma is found to be a strong function of the beam divergence but only a weak function of the beam focal length. Monte Carlo methods were used to follow the injected particles from the injector until they thermalized in the plasma. An aperture in the beam line is required to prevent excessive heating of the vacuum vessel by the injected beam. Shine-through can be a serious problem if very low density start-ups are necessary. Reasonable assumptions on beam divergence yield an estimate of over 1 MW of power absorbed by the plasma. Preliminary calculations indicate that there will be no excessive fast ion losses.