A REVIEW OF PULSED POWER TECHNOLOGY FOR FUSION APPLICATION

Abstract

Fusion energy is an up-and-coming industry that has the potential to grow dramatically in the coming decades. There are already over 40 private fusion companies as well as many government fusion programs with different approaches to achieving commercial fusion energy. Many fusion reactors that focus on pulsed fusion designs, such as inertial confinement fusion and magnetized target fusion, share a common prerequisite: large pulsed-power supplies that must be tailored to meet their specific requirements of heavy machinery. Pulsed power is needed to drive lasers, pulsed magnets, plasma formation, and other key components of fusion reactor systems. Pulsed power systems require high voltages, high currents, complex synchronized control, and cutting-edge equipment and design. These conditions lead to complex byproducts such as significant magnetic fields and complex grounding systems. Identifying the requirements, gaps, and progress in the development of supporting technologies is critical to maximizing the potential for success of the fusion energy industry. This paper provides an overview of pulsed power technologies applicable to the fusion energy industry.