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Essential Physics of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF)

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Inertial Confinement Fusion Driven Thermonuclear Energy

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Abstract

In order to study plasma physics and its behavior for a source of driving fusion in a controlled thermonuclear reaction for purpose of generating energy, understanding of the fundamental knowledge of electromagnetic theory is essential. In this chapter, we introduce Maxwell equations and Coulomb’s barrier or Tunnel effects for better understanding of plasma behavior for confinement purpose. The controlled thermonuclear reaction for generating clean energy that is confined magnetically or inertially requires some basic understanding of physics and mathematics rules and knowledge. We are mainly concerned with confinement of plasmas at terrestrial temperature, e.g., very hot plasmas, where primarily of interest is in application to controlled fusion research in magnetic confinement reactors such as tokomak or using high-power laser or high-energy particles for purpose of inertial confinement fusion. Dimensional analysis and self-similarity allow us to have better understanding of implosion and explosion process in case of lateral confinement approach. This chapter is walking through some of the essentials that one needs to know for the process of inertial confinement in particular as subject of this book, which are all about.

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  1. Galaxy Advanced Engineering, Inc., Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Bahman Zohuri

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Zohuri, B. (2017). Essential Physics of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). In: Inertial Confinement Fusion Driven Thermonuclear Energy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50907-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50907-5_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-50906-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-50907-5

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