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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.
Yasushi Yamamoto, Ryousuke Kusaba, Takayuki Shirouzu, Nobuyuki Inoue
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 39 | Number 2 | March 2001 | Pages 557-561
Nonelectric Applications | doi.org/10.13182/FST01-A11963295
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Effects of beam convergence on fusion reaction rate in the cylindrical IECF device are investigated using 2-D simulation code by changing electrode shape. Simple simulation well reproduces experimentally obtained dependences of neutron production rate vs. discharge voltage and current, and it is found that almost all reactions occur by beam-background gases collisions, not beam-beam collisions. Results show that fusion reaction rate increases significantly with increase of beam convergence, therefore, increase of ion densities in the center, even in the devices where beam-background gas collision is dominate.