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On the thermodynamics of SPARC plasma and its role in reducing uncertainties on the way to large fusion gain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2022

Andrea Di Vita Open the ORCID record for Andrea Di Vita [Opens in a new window]
Andrea Di Vita*
Affiliation:
DICCA, Università di Genova, via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genova, Italy
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

Independent assessment of the feasibility of controlled nuclear fusion in the proposed SPARC tokamak (Creely et al., J. Plasma Phys., vol. 86, 2020, 865860502; Rodriguez-Fernandez et al., J. Plasma Phys., vol. 86, 2020, 865860503) is difficult because of the uncertainties concerning energy transport in the plasma. We discuss a SPARC scenario – where a burning plasma is obtained – with the help of a well-known general constraint on transport in weakly collisional, axisymmetric, toroidal, low-$\beta$ turbulent plasma (Rogister et al., Phys. Fluids B, vol. 4, 1992, p. 804). This constraint is useful in reducing uncertainties on auxiliary heating as the fusion gain begins to be large. No particular ad hoc model for transport coefficients is invoked. The crucial roles of both suitable tuning of ion cyclotron radiofrequency power and high-temperature pedestal are highlighted.

Keywords

fusion plasmaplasma confinement
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 88 , Issue 3 , June 2022 , 905880318
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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