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Fusion

From: "Tomb" <tomb@d...>
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2002 15:40:43 -0500
Subject: Fusion

Tony said:
they are looking for Q > 50. So far, the tokamak design has reached the
highest Q. The current problem is that plasma instabilities quickly halt
the fusion process. Very recently, computer models have shown that it
may be possible lengthen the stable regime through magnetic field
feedback. Basically, as instabilities occur, the confinement field is
adjusted to wipe them out. 

[Tomb] When I see the words "confinement field" in the context of
magnetic fields and plasma instabilities, my eyes glaze over and I can
hear several Federation Engineers yelling "The confinement field is
collapsing!". "The plasma flux capacitor is suffering an avalanche
overload and the warp couplers are offline!" Argh! Treknobabble! ;)

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