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Summarize the physics foundation and performance projections for SPARC, a compact tokamak designed to explore burning-plasma regimes and demonstrate net fusion energy gain.

March 1, 2022Nuclear FusionOpen Access

Overview of the SPARC physics basis towards the exploration of burning-plasma regimes in high-field, compact tokamaks

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Authors

PRP. Rodriguez-FernandezFusion (United States)ACA. J. CreelyFusion Academy MGM. GreenwaldFusion (United States)

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Implication

Design evaluation reveals projected net energy gain in a compact tokamak, highlighting high-temperature superconductors as a viable route to commercial fusion power.

Key Points

Summarize the physics foundation and performance projections for SPARC, a compact tokamak designed to explore burning-plasma regimes and demonstrate net fusion energy gain.
Evaluated tokamak operational parameters based on an on-axis magnetic field of 12.2 T and a plasma current of 8.7 MA enabled by high-temperature superconductor technology.
Modeled plasma confinement, heat transport, and operational stability to establish design requirements across all tokamak sub-systems.
Predicted generation of 140 MW of fusion power under target plasma discharge conditions.
Projected a plasma energy gain of Q ≈ 11, providing substantial operational margin above the mission threshold of Q > 2.

Cite This Study

Rodriguez-Fernandez et al. (2022) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a10a2a110ed65f1d0fd203f https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/ac1654

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Implication

Design evaluation reveals projected net energy gain in a compact tokamak, highlighting high-temperature superconductors as a viable route to commercial fusion power.

Overview of the SPARC physics basis towards the exploration of burning-plasma regimes in high-field, compact tokamaks

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Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Overview of the SPARC physics basis towards the exploration of burning-plasma regimes in high-field, compact tokamaks

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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