Fusion's Promise: How Technological Breakthroughs in Nuclear Fusion Can Conquer Climate Change on Earth (And Carry Humans To Mars, Too)

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