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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.
A. Itakura et al.
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 47 | Number 1 | January 2005 | Pages 300-302
Technical Paper | Open Magnetic Systems for Plasma Confinement | doi.org/10.13182/FST05-A670
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Fluctuation of electron density is observed by using a microwave reflectometry in the central cell of GAMMA 10 tandem mirror. An ultrashort-pulse train, whose pulse width is 65 ps, is transmitted into the plasma in the ordinary-wave mode and reflected at the cut-off layer. The reflected wave is detected by the receiving system, and its time-of-flight, i.e., round trip time, is measured. Fluctuation of the time-of-flight is fluctuation of the cutoff layer and it means density fluctuation. The pulse has a broad frequency spectrum, so each frequency component is reflected at different layer corresponding to its frequency. The frequency range of the receiving system is 7 to 11 GHz, and cut-off density ranges 0.61 to 1.5 × 1018 m-3. Density on the central axis of the plasma is about 2 × 1018 m-3. Radial intensity distribution of the fluctuation is observed without any perturbation. Frequency of the fluctuation is around several kHz.