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Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology pp 1–42Cite as

Nuclear Fusion

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:

  • 192 Accesses

Symbols

Symbol

Units

Meaning

A

m

Magnetic vector potential

a

  

Minor plasma radius at plasma edge

B

T

Magnetic field

Beta, β

None

Ratio of (plasma pressure)/(magnetic field pressure)

Bm Bmax

T

Maximum magnetic field

Bo

T

Central magnetic field

Bp

T

Poloidal magnetic field

Bt

T

Toroidal magnetic field

D

–

Deuterium or deuteron

Φp

Wb

Poloidal magnetic flux

Φt

Wb

Toroidal magnetic flux

Ip

MA

Maximum plasma current

K

T2m4

Magnetic helicity

L

m

Plasma length

me

kg

Electron mass

mi

kg

Ion mass

n

m−3

Plasma electron density (electrons per m3)

Q

  

Fusion energy gain ratio

r

m

Minor plasma radius

R Ro

m

Major plasma radius and its value at plasma center

T

C K, keV

Temperature. 1 keV = 11.6 MK (MegaKelvin)

T

–

Tritium or triton

Te

keV

Electron temperature

Ti

keV

Ion temperature

V

V

voltage

v||

m/s

Particle velocity component along B field direction

v┴

m/s

Particle velocity component perpendicular to B field

Definition of the Subject

Nuclear Fusion of hydrogen isotopes into helium and heavier...

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Abbreviations

ARC:

Affordable, reliable, compact

ARIES:

Advanced reactor innovative engineering studies

ARPA:

Advanced research projects agency

ASDEX:

Axi-symmetric divertor Experiment

CFC:

Carbon fiber composite

COE:

Cost of electricity

DD:

Deuterium-deuterium reaction or fuel

DT:

Deuterium-tritium reaction or fuel

EAST:

Experimental advanced superconducting Tokamak, Hefei

EBT:

Elmo bumpy torus, ORNL

ECRH or ECH:

Electron cyclotron resonance heating

EFDA:

European Fusion Development Agreement

FLiBe:

LiF-BeF molten salt mixture

FNSF:

Fusion nuclear science facility

FRC:

Field reversed configuration

GDT:

Gasdynamic trap, Novosibirsk

HIT:

Helicity injected torus, University of Washington

HTSC:

High temperature superconductor

ICF:

Inertial confinement fusion

ICRH or ICH:

Ion cyclotron resonance heating

IDCD:

Imposed dynamo current drive

IEC:

Inertial electrostatic confinement

IFMIF:

International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility

ITER:

International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor

JET:

Joint European torus

KSTAR:

Korean superconducting Tokamak advanced research

LANL:

Los Alamos National Laboratory

LENR:

Low energy nuclear reactions

LHCD or LH:

Lower hybrid wave current drive or heating

LHD:

Large helical device

LLNL:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

MAST:

Meg-ampere spherical Tokamak

MFTF:

Mirror fusion test facility, LLNL

MHD:

Magnetohydrodynamic model – treats plasma as a conducting fluid

MIF:

Magneto-inertial fusion

MTF:

Magnetized target fusion

NBI:

Neutral beam injection

NCSX:

National Compact Stellarator Experiment, PPPL

NIF:

National Ignition Facility, LLNL

NIFS:

National Institute for Fusion Sciences (Japan)

NRL:

Naval Research Laboratory

NSTX:

National Spherical Tokamak Experiment, PPPL

OH:

Ohmic heating

ORNL:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

PF:

Poloidal magnetic field

PoP:

Proof of principle

PPPL:

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Q:

Fusion energy gain ratio = (fusion energy)/(input energy)

RAFM:

Reduced activation ferritic martensitic steels

RF, rf:

Radiofrequency

RFP:

Reversed field pinch

SC:

Superconducting magnet coils

SI:

Steady injection

SNLA:

Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque

SRRS:

Stimulated rotational Raman scattering

SSPX:

Sustained spheromak physics experiment

TBR:

Tritium breeding ratio

TF:

Toroidal magnetic field

TFTR:

Tokamak fusion test reactor, PPPL

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The Following Books May Be of General Interest

  • Braams CM, Stott PE (2002) Nuclear Fusion: Half a century of magnetic confinement fusion research. Institute of Physics, Philadelphia

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  • Chen FF (1984) Introduction to plasma physics and controlled thermonuclear fusion. Plenum, New York

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  • Chen FF (2011) An indispensable truth – how fusion power can save the planet. Springer, New York

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  • Dinklage A et al (2005) Plasma physics – confinement, transport, and collective effects. Springer

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  • Dolan TJ (1982) Fusion research. Pergamon Press, Elmsford

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  • Dolan TJ (ed) (2014) Magnetic fusion technology. Springer, New York

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  • Freidberg J (2006) Plasma physics and fusion energy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

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  • Kikuchi M, Lackner K, Tran MQ (eds) (2012) Fusion physics. IAEA, Vienna, 1129 pages

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Acknowledgments

The following provided helpful comments on this article: Ralph Moir, Chan Choi, Lee Cadwallader, Nicholas Tsoulfanidis, Alex Parrish, Daniel Prater, and the Institute for Plasma Research (Gandhinagar, India). Charlou Dolan drew many of the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois, 216 Talbot Laboratory, MC-234 104 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Thomas J. Dolan

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Correspondence to Thomas J. Dolan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ramtech Ltd., Larkspur, California, USA

    Robert A. Meyers

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Dolan, T.J. (2016). Nuclear Fusion. In: Meyers, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_31-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_31-3

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