Heating plasma to the extreme temperatures required for fusion reactions is no simple task. One method involves using electromagnetic waves, similar to those in microwave ovens, to heat the plasma. However, while generating the desired heating waves, another type of wave — called a slow mode — can sometimes form. These slow modes do not contribute to heating the plasma and instead waste valuable energy.
To address this challenge, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) conducted advanced computer simulations. They confirmed a technique that prevents the formation of these inefficient slow modes, allowing more energy to heat the plasma effectively. This breakthrough increases the efficiency of fusion reactions, bringing us closer to achieving practical fusion energy.
“This is the first time scientists have used 2D computer simulations to explore how to reduce slow modes,” said Eun-Hwa Kim, a PPPL principal research physicist and lead author of the paper reporting the results in Physics of Plasmas. “The results could lead to more efficient plasma heating and possibly an easier path to fusion energy.”
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