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Opening remarks
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A271 (1988) 1 North-Holland, Amsterdam
An important feature of fusion physics is its rich variety . The many avenues open to magnetic confinement, each requiring mastery of new physics, seem to me a virtual guarantee that fusion reactors are not only realizable, but will undergo continual optimization and probably an eventual evolution towards aneutronic reactors as more of these avenues are explored . One key physics issue is the behavior of very large gyroradius systems, for which the usual thermal physics is inadequate . Ultimately, the charged fusion products will make this nonthermal physics of importance for any fusion reactor. I hope that the Symposium will spur more ideas and progress in this direction . Marshall RQSENBLUTH
Institute for Fusion Studies,
University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
OPENING REMARKS It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this first International Symposium on Feasibility of Aneutronic Power. For years, man has dreamed of having a miniature sun here on earth as his own fusion power plant . That dream has resulted in what some describe as the most exciting and yet most demanding scientific quest faced by man. The reward would be not only an infinite power source for uses here, such as electrical production, but also a power source for deep space missions and ultimate exploration of the universe . As this quest has gone forward, however, it has gradually become recognized that the ideal form of fusion that could offer these benefits without the complications of neutrons, $ritium, and associated radioactivity would require non-DT advanced fuels - ultimately, aneutronic fusion, which would involve reactions such as 3 1-le + 3 e without neutron release . Is this possible? An admirable characteristic of nian in his thirst for knowledge has al\%!a~: s been hill willingness to meet new challenges . That brings all of us together here today to discuss for the first time in an international forum the feasibility of aneutronic fusion . I don't know what we may conclude about the issue of feasibility, but at least we will have not been afraid to face this central issue of fusion. I recently attended a major international fusion meeting titled "Breakeven and Beyond" . Certainly aneutronic fusion is part of the beyond. However, at that meeting, as at most others, the focus was on e present breakeven, and many believe that time spent even thinking about the beyond distracts from effort. On the contrary, the situation before us is like a road map . If we don't seriously consider our destination, how can we be sure that we're going to avoid wrong turns and detours? That is our purpose today, to discuss together destinations and routes . The inspiration for this historic meeting, as well as the sweat and tears of putting it together, belongs to Dr. Maglich and his staff at AELabs and the scientific program committee. Let me ask Dr . Maglich to stand along with the members of hiss nrmanizntinnnt ctnff and trap nrn®rnm onntanittpp and ho rPrn9n77E'd George MILPY Fusion Studies Laboratory, University of I11inois, Urbana, IL, USA
0168-9002'88/$03 .50 © Elsevier Science Publishers B .V . (North-Holland Physics Publishing Division)
An important feature of fusion physics is its rich variety . The many avenues open to magnetic confinement, each requiring mastery of new physics, seem to me a virtual guarantee that fusion reactors are not only realizable, but will undergo continual optimization and probably an eventual evolution towards aneutronic reactors as more of these avenues are explored . One key physics issue is the behavior of very large gyroradius systems, for which the usual thermal physics is inadequate . Ultimately, the charged fusion products will make this nonthermal physics of importance for any fusion reactor. I hope that the Symposium will spur more ideas and progress in this direction . Marshall RQSENBLUTH
Institute for Fusion Studies,
University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
OPENING REMARKS It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this first International Symposium on Feasibility of Aneutronic Power. For years, man has dreamed of having a miniature sun here on earth as his own fusion power plant . That dream has resulted in what some describe as the most exciting and yet most demanding scientific quest faced by man. The reward would be not only an infinite power source for uses here, such as electrical production, but also a power source for deep space missions and ultimate exploration of the universe . As this quest has gone forward, however, it has gradually become recognized that the ideal form of fusion that could offer these benefits without the complications of neutrons, $ritium, and associated radioactivity would require non-DT advanced fuels - ultimately, aneutronic fusion, which would involve reactions such as 3 1-le + 3 e without neutron release . Is this possible? An admirable characteristic of nian in his thirst for knowledge has al\%!a~: s been hill willingness to meet new challenges . That brings all of us together here today to discuss for the first time in an international forum the feasibility of aneutronic fusion . I don't know what we may conclude about the issue of feasibility, but at least we will have not been afraid to face this central issue of fusion. I recently attended a major international fusion meeting titled "Breakeven and Beyond" . Certainly aneutronic fusion is part of the beyond. However, at that meeting, as at most others, the focus was on e present breakeven, and many believe that time spent even thinking about the beyond distracts from effort. On the contrary, the situation before us is like a road map . If we don't seriously consider our destination, how can we be sure that we're going to avoid wrong turns and detours? That is our purpose today, to discuss together destinations and routes . The inspiration for this historic meeting, as well as the sweat and tears of putting it together, belongs to Dr. Maglich and his staff at AELabs and the scientific program committee. Let me ask Dr . Maglich to stand along with the members of hiss nrmanizntinnnt ctnff and trap nrn®rnm onntanittpp and ho rPrn9n77E'd George MILPY Fusion Studies Laboratory, University of I11inois, Urbana, IL, USA
0168-9002'88/$03 .50 © Elsevier Science Publishers B .V . (North-Holland Physics Publishing Division)