New plasma heating method could reshape fusion reactor design strategy
Researchers at Japan's Large Helical Device have successfully produced high-quality plasma using ion cyclotron heating, matching performance previously achieved only with electron cyclotron methods. If commercialized, this alternative approach could cut costs and expand design options for next-generation fusion energy projects worldwide.
Originaltitel: Ion cyclotron range of frequencies plasma production and heating in the large helical device
<p>Plasma production in stellarators with ion cyclotron heating is complementary to the widely used electron cyclotron heating (ECRH). The prospective light ion minority scenario developed and tried on Uragan-2M and Large Helical Device (LHD) stellarators had been reexamined at LHD. The distinctive feature of this attempt is that the parameters of plasma produced are better than before and are comparable with those of plasma produced by the ECRH. This new possibility of ion cyclotron heating, if it becomes practical, motivates rethinking of the role of ion cyclotron heating in stellarator machines.</p>