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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.
H. Matsuura, Y. Tanaka, Y. Nakao, K. Kudo, H. Momota, Y. Tomita
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 27 | Number 3 | April 1995 | Pages 559-562
New Trends and Advanced Concepts | doi.org/10.13182/FST95-A11962963
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An intense neutral beam injected into a plasma creates a tail (i.e. non-Maxwellian component) in velocity distribution function of the same species as the one injected with enhancing (or reducing) fusion reactivities from the values for Maxwellian plasmas. In a typical D-3He startup operation with field reversed configuration (FRC), tail effect on reduction in neutral beam injection (NBI) power required for plasma heating is investigated. It is shown that as a result of effective tail control, the required NBI power can be reduced by about 60 % from the value for Maxwellian plasma.