Abstract
Fifty years ago, the secrecy surrounding magnetically controlled thermonuclear fusion had been lifted allowing researchers to freely share technical results and discuss the challenges of harnessing fusion power. There were only four magnetic confinement fusion concepts pursued internationally: tokamak, stellarator, pinch, and mirror. Since the early 1970s, numerous fusion designs have been developed for the four original and three new approaches: spherical torus, field-reversed configuration, and spheromak. At present, the tokamak is regarded worldwide as the most viable candidate to demonstrate fusion energy generation. Numerous power plant studies (>50), extensive R&D programs, more than 100 operating experiments, and an impressive international collaboration led to the current wealth of fusion information and understanding. As a result, fusion promises to be a major part of the energy mix in the 21st century. The fusion roadmaps developed to date take different approaches, depending on the anticipated power plant concept and the degree of extrapolation beyond ITER. Several Demos with differing approaches will be built in the US, EU, Japan, China, Russia, Korea, India, and other countries to cover the wide range of near-term and advanced fusion systems.
Highlights
Fifty years ago, the secrecy surrounding magnetically controlled thermonuclear fusion had been lifted allowing researchers to freely share technical results and discuss the challenges of harnessing fusion power
Kurchatov on the Energies 2010, 3 possibility of thermonuclear reactions in gaseous discharge, 105 papers on plasma physics and controlled thermonuclear fusion were submitted to the 1958 2nd Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy held by the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland
Since the beginning of fusion development in the early 1970s, researchers have been developing long-term plans and schedules with the end goal of operating fusion power plants in 50 years. This has been a sliding scale vision. It is still uncertain when exactly fusion will contribute to the commercial energy mix, perhaps in several decades, extending the timetable far beyond the famous 50 years of the 1970s, or probably in a few decades if the social and political climate creates a demand for fusion energy maintained with unlimited funding and strong governmental support
Summary
Even though the American scientist Langmuir first discovered the plasma (a collection of charged particles; meaning “moldable substance” in Greek) in 1929, fusion was not pursued as a potential source of energy until the early 1950s. During the early 1950s, the major nuclear power countries at that time (Soviet Union, UK, and US) were actively involved in the fusion research field Before the conference, they declassified their fusion research, allowing researchers around the world to discuss the challenges of fusion as a new source of energy [1]. Four magnetic confinement concepts were pursued internationally in the 1950s: tokamak, stellarator, pinch, and mirror. The power plant studies remained an essential element of the fusion development process in order to understand the future trends. These studies help the fusion community identify the major physics and technology problems and provide guidance for the R&D program to deliver a viable end product. The US had decided in the late 1980s to pursue all confinement concepts, except tandem mirrors
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