http://www.physorg.com/news85222065.html

The GAMMA 10 tandem mirror at the University of Tsukuba in Japan is the world’s largest tandem-mirror plasma-confinement experimental device. In the future, such a device may use the cooling concept presented in this study by Nathaniel Fisch. Image credit: Teruji Cho, University of Tsukuba Plasma Research Center.

Since the development of the hydrogen bomb in the ‘50s, scientists have speculated that the power of fusion might serve as a renewable energy resource. Research has revealed the challenges of this goal, and although nothing close to such an application exists, recently, Professor Nathaniel Fisch from Princeton University has come up with a new idea for efficient fusion energy production based on the old concept of magnetic mirror machines.

“Now that we know that we can get to the high temperatures need for fusion, we are more concerned with the next engineering steps, like shoveling fuel in and taking the ash and heat out of the machines,” Fisch explains to PhysOrg.com. “In the long run, I would not be surprised if people eventually came back to improved open system concepts for economical fusion energy such as the mirror.”