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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.
P. E. Moroz, D. B. Batchelor, B. A. Carreras, S. P. Hirshman, D. K. Lee, V. E. Lynch, D. A. Spong, J. S. Tolliver, A. S. Ware, J. C. Whitson
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 1347-1354
Innovative Approaches to Fusion Energy | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963136
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Novel concepts of an ultra-low-aspect-ratio stellarator system, called a Spherical Stellarator (SS), or a stellarator-tokamak hybrid system, called SMARTH (Small Aspect Ratio Toroidal Hybrid) are discussed for high-β regimes of operation. Self-consistent analysis of the three-dimensional MHD equilibria with inductively driven plasma current or bootstrap current is presented. It is stressed that the bootstrap current in SS can be large and is flowing in such a direction that the rotational transform produced enhances the vacuum rotational transform. This feature increases the equilibrium β-limit. The high-β equilibria in SS and SMARTH (β(0) > 30%, β ⋍ 8-9%) are demonstrated, correspondingly, with the bootstrap current and the ohmic current. Possible experiments and scalings, including those for reactor parameters, are outlined.