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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.
Lucile S. Dauffy, Hesham Y. Khater, Shivakumar Sitaraman, Sandra J. Brereton
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 56 | Number 2 | August 2009 | Pages 736-740
Nuclear Analysis | Eighteenth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (Part 2) | doi.org/10.13182/FST18-P1.38
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Commissioning shots have commenced at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Within a year, the 192 laser beam facility will be operational and the experimental phase will begin. At each shot, the emitted neutrons will interact with surroundings, activating them, especially inside the target bay where the neutron flux is the highest. We are calculating the dose from those activated structures and objects in order to plan and minimize worker exposure during maintenance and normal NIF operation. This study presents the results of the activation analysis of the optics of the Final Optics Assemblies (FOA), which are a key contributor to worker exposure. There are 48 FOAs weighting three tons each, and routine change-out and maintenance of optics and optics modules is expected. We found that the effective dose from any optics is negligible 6 days after the last shot, and that the effective dose from frames is low but should be minimized not to reach the dose limit.