München 2004 – scientific programme

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AKE: Energie

AKE 3: Kernenergien

AKE 3.2: Invited Talk

Tuesday, March 23, 2004, 11:45–12:30, HS 221

Theoretical Understanding of Burning Thermonuclear Plasmas — •A. G. Peeters — Bereich Theorie, MPI für Plasmaphysik, Boltzmannstr. 2, D-85748 Garching

The physics research connected with the development of nuclear fusion is multi-disciplinary, with elements of wave physics, kinetic theory, turbulence and plasma wall interaction. In this talk an overview of different areas is given with emphasis on the meaning for a reactor.

One of the areas in which theory has made progress is the influence of kinetic effects on large scale instabilities. These include the influence of the alpha particles which are the product of the fusion reactions as well as self-generated plasma currents that change the magnetic field topology. Both, unfortunately, open new channels through which the plasma can become unstable. The meaning of these instabilities is reviewed.

One of the most challenging problems since the early days of nuclear fusion research is the understanding of the particle and heat losses from the plasma. These transport processes are larger than expected, and are referred to as anomalous. For this reason reactor designs are based on empirical scaling laws. Recent developments in the understanding of transport processes have let to a more physics based approach. We are now able to predict core profiles with relatively good accuracy. The problem in predicting accurately the total stored energy is therefore shifted towards the prediction of the edge.