Engineering: Cornell Quarterly, Vol.12, No.3 (December 1977): Prospects for Fusion Power

Abstract

IN THIS ISSUE: A Decade of Pioneering Research in Plasma Studies at Cornell /2 (Ravindra N. Sudan, director of the University's Laboratory of Plasma Studies, takes a look at Cornell's accomplishments in plasma physics research.) ... Hotter than the Sun: Reaching Ignition Temperature in a Controlled Thermonuclear Reactor /10 (One of the chief problems in making fusion reactors workable is how to heat the plasma sufficiently to initiate thermonuclear burn. Ways of accomplishing this are discussed by Professor Charles B. Wharton, a pioneer researcher in plasma heating.) ... Heating Toroidal Plasma with Electron Beams /15 (A special problem of electron-beam heating in tokamak reactors and an ingenious way of overcoming it are discussed by Professor Bruce R. Kusse.) ... New Sources of Very High Power /20 (How ion beams and pulses of microwaves may provide the extremely high power needed for controlled thermonuclear fusion and other applications is explained by Professor John A. Nation, who is directing research in this area at Cornell.) ... An Ion Ring Bottle for a Fusion Reactor /26 (Professor Hans H. Fleischmann discusses the concept of containing plasma in a magnetic confinement system with the help of rings of high-energy orbiting ions.) ... Commentary /32 (An overview from the national and world perspectives is presented in "Fusion Power?? Promises and Prospects," an abstract of a lecture given by Peter L. Auer at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting.) ... Register /39