Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Units
- Part I Fusion power
- Part II The plasma physics of fusion energy
- 6 Overview of magnetic fusion
- 7 Definition of a fusion plasma
- 8 Single-particle motion in a plasma – guiding center theory
- 9 Single-particle motion – Coulomb collisions
- 10 A self-consistent two-fluid model
- 11 MHD – macroscopic equilibrium
- 12 MHD – macroscopic stability
- 13 Magnetic fusion concepts
- 14 Transport
- 15 Heating and current drive
- 16 The future of fusion research
- Appendix A Analytical derivation of 〈ς v〉
- Appendix B Radiation from an accelerating charge
- Appendix C Derivation of Boozer coordinates
- Appendix D Poynting's theorem
- Index
- References
6 - Overview of magnetic fusion
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Units
- Part I Fusion power
- Part II The plasma physics of fusion energy
- 6 Overview of magnetic fusion
- 7 Definition of a fusion plasma
- 8 Single-particle motion in a plasma – guiding center theory
- 9 Single-particle motion – Coulomb collisions
- 10 A self-consistent two-fluid model
- 11 MHD – macroscopic equilibrium
- 12 MHD – macroscopic stability
- 13 Magnetic fusion concepts
- 14 Transport
- 15 Heating and current drive
- 16 The future of fusion research
- Appendix A Analytical derivation of 〈ς v〉
- Appendix B Radiation from an accelerating charge
- Appendix C Derivation of Boozer coordinates
- Appendix D Poynting's theorem
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
The analysis presented in the previous chapters has established the plasma properties necessary for a magnetic fusion reactor. In particular, a combination of engineering and nuclear physics constraints has shown that a fusion plasma must achieve a temperature T ∼ 15 keV, a pressure p ∼ 7 atm, a plasma beta β ∼ 8%, and an energy confinement time τE ∼ 1 s. Furthermore, the plasma must be confined in the shape of a torus with minor radius a ∼ 2 m and major radius R0 ∼ 5 m. The challenge to the fusion plasma physics community is to discover ways to simultaneously achieve these parameters.
Because the behavior of a fusion plasma can be quite complicated and subtle, as well as being far from our everyday intuitive experiences, it is perhaps not surprising that this has led to the development of a new subfield of physics known as “plasma physics.” Only after knowledge of this new state of matter has been mastered will it be possible to produce robust fusion plasmas suitable for a fusion reactor.
The need to master plasma physics is the motivation for the second part of the book. Presented in these chapters is a description of the plasma physics necessary to produce a fusion plasma. The goal is to provide a reasonably rigorous introduction to the field of plasma physics as viewed from the perspective of a nuclear engineer.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy , pp. 111 - 120Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007