I. Burning Plasma Experiment Physics Design Description

The mission of the Burning Plasma Experiment (BPX) is to determine the physics behavior of self-heated fusion plasmas and demonstrate the production of substantial amounts of fusion power. Supporting objectives, included in this paper are: demonstrate the production of fusion power in excess if 100 MW, a fusion-reactor-level power density; determine the confinement physics, operational limits, and alpha-particle dynamics of self-heated fusion plasmas with alpha power greater than auxiliary heating power; demonstrate heating, fueling and plasma handling techniques necessary to produce reactor-level power density, self-heated fusion plasma; optimize plasma performance in the range of Q = 5 to ignition, with fusion power up to 500 MW (here Q is defined as the ratio of fusion power to externally supplied plasma heating power, including ohmic heating power).