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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.
F. Wagner, J. Baldzuhn, R. Brakel, B. Branas, R. Burhenn, J. Das, E. De La Luna, V. Erckmann, Y. Feng, S. Fiedler, L. Gianonne, P. Grigull, H.-J. Hartfuß, O. Heinrich, G. Herre, M. Hirsch, J.V. Hofmann, E. Holzhauer, R. Jaenicke, Ch. Konrad, G. Kocsis, W. Ohlendorf, P. Pech, F. Sardei, E. Wuersching, S. Zoletnik
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 27 | Number 3 | April 1995 | Pages 32-39
Overview Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST95-A11947043
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We will give a summary on the status of H-mode studies on W7-AS stellarator. The major H-mode characteristics compare well with those known from the tokamak H-mode. All major characteristics of the H-mode are reproduced: The transition is spontaneous above a power and density threshold; particle and energy confinement improve simultaneously; a transport barrier at the edge develops with steep pressure gradients and ELMs appear; small scale fluctuations are strongly reduced and the development of a radial electric field is indicated by increased perpendicular impurity flow velocity. The temporal development of the transition seems to be distinctively slower than in tokamaks. The H-mode can be initiated by ECRH or NBI, respectively. The power threshold can be smaller than that of tokamaks. With ECRH, the density threshold is found to increase with heating power. The H-mode develops in small windows of the accessible iota range. These operational islands are characterised by a negative electric field already prior to the H-mode and a distinct maximum in space potential at the separatrix.