Abstract
Efficient plasma heating by energetic fusion α-particles is a key element of achieving ignition or high fusion gain regimes (Q ≫ 1) in a tokamak reactor. The paper summarizes issues and reviews the latest theoretical and experimental results in the area of energetic particle physics in tokamaks. The discussion includes the classical physics of α-particle heating, effects of perturbations on a single-particle confinement, collective instabilities driven by energetic α-particles, description of the potential α-particle loss channels and their impact on a design of the plasma-facing components in a tokamak reactor. Most of the extrapolations to tokamak reactors are done with the use of ITER parameters and operational scenarios as an example.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 493-513 |
Number of pages | 21 |
Journal | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |
Volume | 357 |
Issue number | 1752 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1999 Jan 1 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Confinement
- Energetic α-particles
- Fusion
- Heating
- Instabilities
- Tokamak
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Mathematics(all)
- Engineering(all)
- Physics and Astronomy(all)