Plasma 2015: Lighten the fourth state of matter for fusion

Plasma 2015: Lighten the fourth state of matter for fusion

euro plasma December 10th 2015 “After this discussion, it seems, we understand plasma better and we are closer to the technological applications of it” – summarised Andrzej Gałkowski, Director of the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) at the closing ceremony of the International Conference on Research and Applications of Plasmas. The conference … Read more

Calculations Run at NERSC Create 3D Simulations of Fusion Plasmas

Calculations Run at NERSC Create 3D Simulations of Fusion Plasmas

NERSC JANUARY 4, 2016 Contact: Kathy Kincade, kkincade@lbl.gov, 510-495-2124 A cross-section of the virtual plasma showing where the magnetic field lines intersect the plane. The central section has field lines that rotate exactly once. Image: Stephen Jardin A cross-section of the virtual plasma showing where the magnetic field lines intersect the plane. The central section … Read more

William Reville: Nuclear fusion efforts are being energised by the private sector

William Reville: Nuclear fusion efforts are being energised by the private sector

The Irish Times William Reville Jan 7, 2016 Serious progress is being made with nuclear fusion, which has huge potential for generating clean energy A nuclear fusion research centre at the Max-Planck-Institut for Plasma Physics in Germany. Photograph: Stefan Sauer/EPA Nuclear fusion is the holy grail of energy generation. Elaborate state-sponsored efforts since 1957 to … Read more

The Office of Science’s Fusion Energy Sciences Program: A Ten‐Year Perspective

The Office of Science’s	 Fusion Energy Sciences Program: A Ten‐Year Perspective

Report to Congress December 2015 Message from the Acting Director, Office of Science This report outlines a scientifically rich and impactful course for U.S. fusion energy research under the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program of the Department of Energy over the next 10 years.  The overall mission of the FES program is to expand the fundamental … Read more

Graphene Can be Used to Inexpensively Separate Deuterium from Seawater for Fusion Fuel Cycles

Graphene Can be Used to Inexpensively Separate  Deuterium from Seawater for Fusion Fuel Cycles

Independent, UK Steve Connor Dec. 31, 2015 Previously ‘unthinkable’ uses for wonder material graphene are discovered by scientists A scientist inspects a model of graphene’s super-fine structure; it can ‘separate items smaller than an atom’ Graeme Cooper Graphene, the thinnest and strongest substance known to science, could be used to help detoxify nuclear waste thanks … Read more

Plasma research shows promise for future compact accelerators

Plasma research shows promise for future compact accelerators

LANL December 21, 2015 A transformative breakthrough in controlling ion beams allows small-scale laser-plasma accelerators to deliver unprecedented power densities. The team in front of the Trident Target Chamber. Back, from left: Tom Shimada, Sha-Marie Reid, Adam Sefkow, Miguel Santiago, and Chris Hamilton. Front, from left: Russ Mortensen, Chengkun Huang, Sasi Palaniyappan, Juan Fernandez, Cort … Read more

German Plasma Success Raises Nuclear Fusion Hopes

German Plasma Success Raises Nuclear Fusion Hopes

Nuclear Friends Foundation The Wendelstein 7-X machine’s plasma – but nuclear fusion is still years away A German nuclear fusion experiment has produced a special super-hot gas which scientists hope will eventually lead to clean, cheap energy. The helium plasma – a cloud of loose, charged particles – lasted just a tenth of a second … Read more

Is fusion energy around the corner?

Is fusion energy around the corner?

Illinois News Bureau AUSTIN KEATING DEC 22, 2015 The W7-X experiment’s successful creation of plasma in Germany is a step along the path to fusion energy, says Illinois research professor Daniel Andruczyk. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer Editor’s note: Nuclear fusion – the process of recreating the reaction that powers the sun for unlimited energy … Read more

World’s biggest tokamak gets Gujarati heart

World’s biggest tokamak gets Gujarati heart

Times of India Paul John | TNN | Dec 24, 2015 AHMEDABAD: The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), which is the world’s biggest six -country scientific collaboration to generate nuclear fusion energy in Saint-PaulLez-Durance in France, now officially has a Gujarati heart. The institute of plasma research (IPR) in Gandhinagar, which houses the ITERIndia team … Read more

PPPL celebrates role in first research plasma on W7-X stellarator in Germany

PPPL celebrates role in first research plasma on W7-X stellarator in Germany

Eureka Alert 22-DEC-2015 DOE/PRINCETON PLASMA PHYSICS LABORATORY A wide-angle shot of the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) taken in October when the device was still under construction. One of the gold-colored trim coils built and delivered by PPPL can be seen at the far right of the machine. CREDIT: PHOTO BY GLEN WURDEN/LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY. Scientists … Read more