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Alternative fusion devices: Difference between revisions
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The mainstream [[tokamak]], [[stellarator]], [[spheromak]] and [[Reversed Field Pinch]] designs may achieve energy production by fusion in the future, but it remains to be seen whether these designs will lead to economically viable and attractive power plants, as fusion reactors based on these designs will almost certainly need to be very large. | The mainstream [[tokamak]], [[stellarator]], [[spheromak]] and [[Reversed Field Pinch]] designs may achieve energy production by fusion in the future, but it remains to be seen whether these designs will lead to economically viable and attractive power plants, as fusion reactors based on these designs will almost certainly need to be very large. | ||
Given this situation, there is considerable interest in developing alternative designs | Given this situation, there is considerable interest in developing alternative designs. | ||
Their common goal is to achieve fusion power generation at lower cost by exploiting the hypothetical improved plasma confinement properties of a different magnetic field configuration (or other design features), which would allow a reduced size of the power plant. | |||
<ref>D. Clery, [[doi:10.1126/science.345.6195.370|Science ''345'', 6195 (2014) 370]]</ref> | <ref>D. Clery, [[doi:10.1126/science.345.6195.370|Science ''345'', 6195 (2014) 370]]</ref> | ||
Currently, none of the alternative designs have achieved these potential benefits. | Currently, none of the alternative designs have achieved these potential benefits. | ||