For over 60 years, scientists and engineers have been trying to crack a seemingly intractable problem: how to build practical devices that exploit nuclear fusion. Access to electricity has facilitated a standard of living that was previously unimaginable, but as the world’s population grows and developing nations increasingly reap the benefits of electrification, we face a serious global problem: burning fossil fuels currently produces about eighty percent of the world's energy, but it produces a greenhouse effect that traps outgoing infrared radiation and warms the planet, risking dire environmental consequences unless we reduce our fossil fuel consumption to near zero in the coming decades. Nuclear fusion, the energy-producing process in the sun and stars, could provide the answer: if it can be successfully harnessed here on Earth, it will produce electricity with near-zero CO2 byproduct by using the nuclei in water as its main fuel. The principles behind fusion are understood, but the technology is far from being fully realized, and governments, universities, and venture capitalists are pumping vast amounts of money into many ideas, some highly speculative, that could lead to functioning fusion reactors. This book puts all of these attempts together in one place, providing clear explanations for readers who are interested in new energy technologies, including those with no formal training in science or engineering. For each of the many approaches to fusion, the reader will learn who pioneered the approach, how the concept works in plain English, how experimental tests were engineered, the future prospects, and comparison with other approaches. From long-established fusion technologies to emerging and exotic methods, the reader will learn all about the idea that could eventually constitute the single greatest engineering advance in human history.
Author(s): Matthew Moynihan, Alfred B. Bortz
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 284
City: Cham
Foreword for “Fusion’s Promise”
Ready When Society Needs It…
Moving Forward
Different Approaches
Preface: The Current State of Fusion
Reframing the Argument
A Rapidly Changing Field for a Rapidly Changing World
Why This Matters
(Both Authors)
(Matthew Moynihan)
Why Cold Fusion Is No Longer Hot
A Partnership
References
Acknowledgments
From Matthew Moynihan (Except Where Noted Otherwise)
Contents
About the Authors
1: Plasma Science
1.1 The Nature of Matter
1.1.1 Subatomic Particles
1.1.2 Isotopes and Binding Energy
1.2 Nuclear Reactions and Transformations
1.2.1 Radioactivity and Nuclear Fission
1.2.2 Nuclear Fusion Reactions
1.3 Modeling Plasmas
1.3.1 Elements of Plasma Models
1.4 A “Deep Dive” into Plasma Models
1.4.1 Model 1: One Particle
1.4.2 Model 2: Fluid Dynamics
1.4.3 Model 3: Ideal Magnetohydrodynamics
1.4.4 Model 4: Two Fluids
Important Considerations for Two-Fluid Models
1.5 Computer Simulation of Fusion Systems
1.5.1 Particles in Cells
1.5.2 Models 5–6: Gyrokinetics and Kinetics
1.5.3 Model 7: Discretizing Vlasov
1.6 Applying the Models
References
2: Fusion Technology
2.1 Fusion Science and Technology
2.2 Types of Fusion Devices
2.3 Fusion Device Design
2.3.1 Dimensional Analysis
2.3.2 Dimensional Analysis, Simulation, and Machine Learning
2.4 Fuels
2.4.1 Cross Sections
Inset: Featured Fusioneer, Dr. George Miley
End Inset
2.4.2 Chain Reactions, Ignition, and Burning Plasmas
2.5 Fusion’s Broad Impact
2.5.1 The Lawson Energy Balance Criteria
2.6 Analytical and Medical Applications
2.6.1 Imaging and Analysis Applications
2.6.2 Medical Isotopes
Cancer Therapy
2.7 Space Propulsion
References
3: The Pinch Family
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Types of Pinch Machines
3.3 Z, Theta, and Screw Pinch
3.4 MagLIF
3.5 Pinch Problems
3.5.1 Interchange Instabilities
3.5.2 Kink and Sausage Instabilities
3.5.3 Kink Instabilities
3.6 Dealing with Instabilities
3.7 The Flowing Pinch
References
4: Magnetic Mirrors
4.1 Fusion’s Golden Age
4.2 Richard Post and the Mirror Fusion Concept
4.3 Mirror Machine Design Parameters
4.3.1 Pitch
4.3.2 Reducing Leakage
4.4 Further Progress
4.5 The Tandem Mirror
4.6 The Magnetic Fusion Test Facility (MFTF)
4.7 Modern Mirrors
4.8 Levitating Dipole Experiment (LDX)
References
5: Cusp Systems
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Cusp Fusion Reactor Technology
5.2.1 Biconic Cusps
5.2.2 Mirror Effect and Scattering in Cusp Systems
5.2.3 Superconducting Biconic Cusps
5.2.4 Cusp Leakage and Diamagnetic Trapping
5.2.5 Radiation Losses in Cusps
5.3 Other Cusp Concepts
5.4 Current Cusp Systems
5.4.1 Polywell
5.4.2 Compact Fusion Reactor
5.5 A Call for Transparency
References
6: Tokamaks and Spherical Tokamaks
6.1 A Brief History of Tokamaks
6.2 The Tokamak Concept
6.2.1 Shaping the Plasma “Racetrack”
6.2.2 Plasma Current
6.3 Tokamak Engineering
6.3.1 A Current Example: The Tokamak Energy ST40
6.4 Tokamak Operation
6.4.1 Operational Coils
6.5 Stellarator Engineering
6.6 Milestones in Tokamak History from TFTR to ITER
6.7 Macroscopic Behavior of Tokamak Plasma
6.8 Microscopic Behavior of Tokamak Plasma
6.9 Stability of Tokamak Plasmas
6.10 Key Parameters and Scaling Laws
6.11 The Promise of Superconductors
6.11.1 Challenge with Superconductors
6.11.2 Achievements
6.12 Featured Examples: Tokamak Energy and Commonwealth Fusion Systems
References
7: Plasmoids
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Field Reversed Configurations
7.3 The Spheromak
7.4 Rotamaks
7.5 Plasmoid History and Its Research Community
7.5.1 Make, Move, Hold
7.5.2 FRC Rockets
7.5.3 TAE Technologies
7.5.4 Sam Cohen and the Princeton FRC
7.6 Twisted Structures
7.6.1 The Dynomak
7.6.2 Plasmoid Structural Collapse
7.6.3 Helicity Space
7.7 Conclusion
References
8: Inertial Confinement Fusion
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Early History
8.3 Direct Drive
8.4 An ICF Power Plant
8.5 ICF in the 1970s
8.6 ICF in the 1980s
8.6.1 A Typical 1980s Laser ICF Facility
8.7 ICF in the 1990s and the Path to the NIF
8.7.1 The LIFE Concept
8.7.2 NIF Performance
8.8 ICF Approaches
8.8.1 Direct Drive
8.8.2 Indirect Drive
8.8.3 Fast Ignition
8.8.4 Magneto-Inertial Fusion
8.8.5 Ion-Beam ICF
8.8.6 Pulsed Power Grows from Fusion
8.8.7 MagLIF
8.8.8 Projectile Compression
8.9 ICF Power Plant Challenges
References
9: Plasma Jets
9.1 Background
9.2 PJMIF Basics
9.3 PJMIF Advantages and Challenges
9.4 Target Design
9.5 Liner Formation
9.5.1 Liner Flexibility
9.6 Building Support for PJMIF
9.7 New Cannons
9.8 Plasma Liner Experiment
9.9 The Current State of PJMIF
References
10: Inertial Electrostatic Confinement
10.1 Beyond Power Plants
10.2 Farnsworth and Fusors
10.3 From Fusors to IEC
10.4 Attempts to Improve Fusors
10.5 IEC Products
10.6 Fusion for Amateurs
10.6.1 A High School Fusion Club
10.7 Conclusion
References
11: The Path Forward
11.1 Where We Stand with Energy
11.2 Fusion in Our Future
11.2.1 Funding Fusion
11.2.2 Fusion Trends
11.2.3 Every Community Can Help
11.3 To Mars and Back
11.4 Economic Impact
11.5 The Promise of Commercial Fusion Power
References
12: Epilogue
Glossary
Index
