Magnetic Fusion Energy

2

Plasma performance, burn and sustainment

H. Zohm     Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, Garching, Germany

Abstract

The plasma physics requirements to achieve controlled thermonuclear fusion in magnetically confined toroidal plasma are discussed. Requirements are quantified for the level of cross-field heat and particle transport, MHD stability and confinement of α-particles for both tokamak and stellarator devices. It is shown that the basic requirements can be achieved in present-day devices, albeit not simultaneously, which is the goal of the ITER experiment. An important issue is the combination of these elements into an integrated operation scenario that allows stationary production of fusion power with high efficiency, and different approaches ...