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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.
Kenneth M. Young
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 57 | Number 3 | April 2010 | Pages 298-304
Technical Note | doi.org/10.13182/FST10-A9473
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A demonstration tokamak is an essential next step toward a magnetic fusion-based reactor. One based on advanced tokamak plasmas is especially appealing because of its relative compactness. However, many plasma measurements will be required to provide the necessary signals to feed to ancillary systems to protect the device and control the plasma. This technical note addresses the question of how much intrusion into the blanket system will be required to allow the measurements needed to provide the information required for plasma control. All diagnostics will require, at least, the same shielding designs as planned for ITER, while having the capability to maintain their calibration through very long pulses. Much work is required to define better the measurement needs and the quantity and quality of the measurements that will have to be made, and how they can be integrated into the other tokamak structures.