• Energy Research

48th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics

The transition to sustainable and high-efficiency energy systems is imperative in addressing the global energy crisis, climate change, and geopolitical uncertainties. This paper presents a novel hybrid plasma-based energy generation system, designed to surpass the limitations of conventional nuclear and renewable energy technologies by integrating: Computational simulations, thermodynamic modeling, and techno-economic analyses reveal that the proposed system achieves an energy density 15.6 times higher than conventional nuclear power plants, while operating with zero carbon emissions. Additionally, the integration of hydroelectric storage solutions optimizes energy dispatchability, reducing reliance on grid-based storage and fossil-fuel peaker plants. Economic feasibility assessments indicate that the system enables a rapid return on investment (ROI) of approximately 1.5 years, compared to the 10+ years typically required for nuclear infrastructure amortization**. The lower capital cost per installed megawatt, coupled with modular scalability, positions this technology as a competitive alternative for large-scale power generation, particularly in industrial applications and national energy grids. The results underscore the disruptive potential of this technology in energy security, decarbonization, and long-term sustainability**. This hybrid plasma system presents a viable pathway toward continuous, high-density, and cost-effective power generation**, aligning with global energy transition strategies and the urgent need for carbon-neutral industrial solutions.

This annual report summarizes the activities of the Cornell Center for Pulsed-Power-Driven High-Energy-Density Plasma Studies, for the 12-month period October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006. This period corresponds to the first year of the two-year extension (awarded in October, 2005) to the original 3-year NNSA/DOE Cooperative Agreement with Cornell, DE-FC03-02NA00057. As such, the period covered in this report also corresponds to the fourth year of the (now) 5-year term of the Cooperative Agreement. The participants, in addition to Cornell University, include Imperial College, London (IC), the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), the University of Rochester (UR), the Weizmann Institute of Science (WSI), and the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI), Moscow. A listing of all faculty, technical staff and students, both graduate and undergraduate, who participated in Center research activities during the year in question is given in Appendix A.

Energetic deposition using filtered cathodic arc plasma is known to lead to well adherent and dense films. Interface mixing, subplantation depth, texture, and stress of the growing film are often studied as a function of the kinetic energy of condensing ions. Ions have also potential energy contributing to atomic scale heating, secondary electron emission and potential sputtering, thereby affecting all film properties. A table is presented showing kinetic and potential energies of ions in cathodic arc plasmas. These energies are greater than the binding energy, surface binding energy, and activation energy of surface diffusion. The role of potential energy on film growth is not limited to the cathodic arc plasma deposition process.

The authors present results from disruption experiments where they measure magnetic energy flow across a closed surface surrounding the plasma using a Poynting flux analysis to measure the electromagnetic power, bolometers to measure radiation power and IR scanners to measure radiation and particle heat conduction to the divertor. The initial and final stored energies within the volume are found using the full equilibrium reconstruction code EFIT. From this analysis they calculate an energy balance and find that they can account for all energy deposited on the first wall and the divertor to within about 10%.

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2015 ; A new experiment at the University of Washington called Mochi is intended to simulate astrophysical jets in the laboratory and investigate their stability, with particular interest in conservation of canonical helicity. As a new experiment, Mochi’s plasma parameters are relatively unknown. This thesis describes the development of a gridded energy analyzer (GEA), the ultimate goal of which is to provide initial measurements of Mochi’s ion energy distribution. The concept of the Mochi.GEA is to start with the simplest possible design and make necessary improvements based on observed performance. The initial design suffered from a space charge limitation issue, which was mitigated using a pinhole aperture. Secondary electron emission was also identified as a major issue and addressed with a secondary electron suppressor. The analyzer has successfully measured the electron energy distribution but not yet successfully measured the ion energy distribution. However, the Mochi.GEA design is easily modifiable, and further development may arrive at a working design.

Application of Chandrasekhar's stellar approach to plasmas reveals the importance of nondominant terms in both the energy transfer from ions to electrons and the form of the Coulomb logarithm. Curves illustrate the role of dominant and nondominant terms in the neighborhood of v/sub e/ approximately v/sub i/.

It is shown that as the resonance condition of the particle-wave interaction is varied adiabatically, that the particles trapped in the wave will form phase space holes or clumps that can enhance the particle-wave energy exchange. This mechanism can cause much larger saturation levels of instabilities, and even allow the free energy associated with instability, to be tapped in a system that is linearly stable due to background dissipation.

My remarks are concerned with employing the Compact Torus magnetic field configuration to produce fusion energy. In particular, I would like to consider high energy density regimes where the pressures generated extend well beyond the strength of materials. Under such conditions, where nearby walls are vaporized and pushed aside each shot, the technological constraints are very different from usual magnetic fusion and may admit opportunities for an improved fusion reactor design. 5 refs., 3 figs.

This paper is intended as a survey of collective plasma processes which can affect the transfer of high frequency radiation in a hot dense plasma. We are rapidly approaching an era when this subject will become important in the laboratory. For pedagogical reasons we have chosen to examine plasma processes by relating them to a particular reference plasma which will consist of fully ionized carbon at a temperature kT=1 KeV (10/sup 70/K) and an electron density N = 3 x 10/sup 23/cm/sup -3/, (which corresponds to a mass density rho = 1 gm/cm/sup 3/ and an ion density N/sub i/ = 5 x 10/sup 22/ cm/sup -3/). We will consider the transport in such a plasma of photons ranging from 1 eV to 1 KeV in energy. Such photons will probably be frequently used as diagnostic probes of hot dense laboratory plasmas.