Plasma and Fusion

Plasma and Fusion

Fusion occurs in Plasma - Ions and Electrons. Plasma is formed when a gas is energized, causing its atoms to lose electrons and become ionized. This can happen through intense heating, electrical discharges, or energy released from chemical reactions. The resulting plasma, a mix of free electrons and ions, conducts electricity and responds to magnetic fields

Fusion occurs in Plasma - Ions and Electrons. Plasma is formed when a gas is energized, causing its atoms to lose electrons and become ionized. This can happen through intense heating, electrical discharges, or energy released from chemical reactions. The resulting plasma, a mix of free electrons and ions, conducts electricity and responds to magnetic fields

Magnetic Confinement

Magnetic Confinement

Magnetic devices are humanity's best bet to confine plasma effectively, for fusion. Charged particles in plasma, such as ions and electrons, move in helical patterns, following magnetic field lines. To confine them indefinitely, the magnetic field lines must form a continuous loop.  The simplest design to achieve this is a torus—a donut-shaped configuration where magnetic field lines form closed loops.

Magnetic devices are humanity's best bet to confine plasma effectively, for fusion. Charged particles in plasma, such as ions and electrons, move in helical patterns, following magnetic field lines. To confine them indefinitely, the magnetic field lines must form a continuous loop.  The simplest design to achieve this is a torus—a donut-shaped configuration where magnetic field lines form closed loops.

Small Aspect Ratio Reactors

Small Aspect Ratio Reactors

Spherical tokamaks, characterized by their small aspect ratio (ratio of major to minor radius), offer significant advantages in fusion reactor design. Unlike conventional tokamaks, where the plasma is shaped more like a doughnut, spherical tokamaks resemble a cored apple, allowing for stronger magnetic curvature and improved stability. This geometry leads to higher plasma pressure for a given magnetic field strength, making them more efficient in terms of confinement. Additionally, their compact size reduces construction costs and enables the use of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets, further enhancing performance. The small aspect ratio also facilitates better access to the plasma core, crucial for heating and fueling strategies. Emerging research suggests that these devices can be optimized to sustain high-beta plasmas, making them potential candidates for next-generation fusion reactors, especially in applications where space and scalability are critical, such as compact power plants and mobile energy solutions.