The U.S. Mirror Fusion Program; Preprint UCRL-97532. This paper was prepared for submission to Fizika Plazmy

Beschreibung

Printed two pages per sheet. 18 numbered pages and 10 pages of figures (page with figures 1 and 2 included twice). Includes Introduction, 2XIIB Results, Building on Success, The Tandem Mirror, The Field Reversed Mirror, The Mirror Fusion Test Facility, Summary, Tables, References, Figure Captions, and 7 figures. Includes Summary, References, Figure Captions, Evolution of Plasma Parameters in Theory and Experiment, and Evolution of Mirror Fusion Ideas. The LLNL Fusion Energy Sciences Program (FESP) conducts research funded by the DOE SC Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES). The primary research areas include: (1) MFE experimental research conducted through collaborations on the General Atomics DIII-D tokamak experiment and on PPPL's NSTX-U spherical tokamak experiment; (2) Fusion & Plasma Theory and Modeling in support of the DIII-D and NSTX-U collaborations, as well as international MFE facilities primarily found in Asia and Europe; (3) Fusion Materials and Technology research in support of fusion nuclear science; and (4) High-Energy-Density Laboratory Plasma (HEDLP) research that explores fundament plasma science questions in densities and temperatures relevant to HED Science. In addition to the research funded by SC FES, FESP is the PLS Physics division discipline home for Applied Plasma and EM Simulation group. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory MFE Experimental Research Group develops novel diagnostic measurements and executes state-of-the-art MFE experiments focused on both the core and boundary of high performance MFE plasmas through LLNL collaborations with the DIII-D National Fusion Facility at General Atomics (LLNL contact Steve Allen) and NSTX-U at PPPL (LLNL contact Vlad Soukhanovskii). Research activities include the comparison of experiment results with analytical theory and computational models of plasma behavior. Magnetic confinement fusion is an approach to generate thermonuclear fusion power that uses magnetic fields to confine fusion fuel in the form of a plasma. Magnetic confinement is one of two major branches of fusion energy research, along with inertial confinement fusion. The magnetic approach began in the 1940s and absorbed the majority of subsequent development. Fusion reactions combine light atomic nuclei such as hydrogen to form heavier ones such as helium, producing energy. In order to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between the nuclei, they must have a temperature of tens of millions of degrees, creating a plasma. In addition, the plasma must be contained at a sufficient density for a sufficient time, as specified by the Lawson criterion (triple product). Magnetic confinement fusion attempts to use the electrical conductivity of the plasma to contain it through interaction with magnetic fields. The magnetic pressure offsets the plasma pressure. Developing a suitable arrangement of fields that contain the fuel without excessive turbulence or leaking is the primary challenge of this technology. The development of magnetic fusion energy (MFE) came in three distinct phases. In the 1950s it was believed MFE would be relatively easy to achieve, setting off a race to build a suitable machine. By the late 1950s, it was clear that plasma turbulence and instabilities were problematic, and during the 1960s, "the doldrums", effort turned to a better understanding of plasma physics. In 1968, a Soviet team invented the tokamak magnetic confinement device, which demonstrated performance ten times better than alternatives and became the preferred approach. Presumed First Edition, First printing of preprint of journal article.

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Bibliografische Details

Titel

The U.S. Mirror Fusion Program; Preprint UCRL-97532. This paper was prepared for submission to Fizika Plazmy

Verlag

University of California, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory

Erscheinungsjahr

1977

Einband

Staplebound

Auflage

1. Auflage

Zustand

Good