Avoiding melt damage in fusion reactors

What is it about?

In tokamak fusion reactors, the fusion fuel is heated to temperatures hotter than the center of the sun. This paper evaluates two methods used to prevent the hot fuel from damaging the machine in short bursts of energy loss called "disruptions".

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Why is it important?

Plasma disruptions are a major obstacle to achieving controlled fusion power. Machine damage caused by disruptions can prevent the operation of planned fusion power plants. Damaged components are difficult to repair or replace in radioactive environments. The disruption mitigation methods examined in this paper are a promising approach to preventing damage and allowing consistent power plant operation.