About the book
Fusion power can make an enduring contribution to future energy supply as it offers benefits of both renewable and resource-limited energy sources. However, several challenges still need to be faced and solved until fusion energy may become a commercial reality. The extreme temperatures and strong magnetic fields inside a nuclear fusion reactor can make the power generation process highly prone to several instabilities. An important concern is the risk of disruptions due to sudden changes in plasma positions during plasma instabilities, resulting in the generation of eddy currents on interaction with the induced currents. Materials need to have extremely high heat tolerances and low enough vapor pressure to reduce plasma contamination. The future of nuclear fusion as an efficient alternative energy source depends largely on techniques that enable us to control these instabilities.
Modeling and experiments attempt to overcome some of the hindrances posed by these complexities. Measurements of eddy currents are essential to design a mechanical structure that can withstand the electromagnetic force generated. It requires a detailed description of the nuclear reactor, leading to extremely demanding computational models. The design of a feedback controller to measure and counteract the unstable modes of evolution of the plasma requires rather accurate response models of the overall system plasma plus conductors.
This book intends to provide the reader with a rather comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art in this fascinating and critically important field of physics and engineering, presenting some of the most recent developments of the last years relating to theory, modeling, algorithms, experiments, and applications.
