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Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Statements of Task." National Research Council. 2012. Interim Report—Status of the Study "An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy". Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13371.
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Appendix B: Statements of Task

For the Committee on the Prospects for Inertial Confinement Fusion Energy Systems

The statements of task for both the committee’s final report and interim report (underlined) are shown below. The scope of the final report will be much broader than that of this interim report. The statement of task for the separate and supporting study by the Panel on the Assessment of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Targets is also shown. The statement of task for the committee is as follows:

The Committee will prepare a report that will:

•   Assess the prospects for generating power using inertial confinement fusion;

•   Identify scientific and engineering challenges, cost targets, and R&D objectives associated with developing an IFE demonstration plant; and

•   Advise the U.S. Department of Energy on its development of an R&D roadmap aimed at creating a conceptual design for an inertial fusion energy demonstration plant.

The Committee will also prepare an interim report to inform future year planning by the federal government.

A Panel on Fusion Target Physics with access to classified information as well as controlled-restricted unclassified information will serve as a technical resource to the committee and will describe, in a report containing only publicly accessible information, the R&D challenges to providing suitable targets on the basis of parameters established and provided by the Committee. The Panel will also assess the current performance of various fusion target technologies.

For the Panel on the Assessment of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Targets

The statement of task for the supporting panel is as follows:

A Panel on Fusion Target Physics (“the Panel”) will serve as a technical resource to the Committee on Inertial Confinement Energy Systems (“the Committee”) and will prepare a report that describes the R&D challenges to providing suitable targets, on the basis of parameters established and provided to the Panel by the Committee.

The Panel on Fusion Target Physics will prepare a report that will assess the current performance of fusion targets associated with various ICF concepts in order to understand:

1. The spectrum output;

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Statements of Task." National Research Council. 2012. Interim Report—Status of the Study "An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy". Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13371.
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2. The illumination geometry;

3. The high-gain geometry; and

4. The robustness of the target design.

The Panel will also address the potential impacts of the use and development of current concepts for Inertial Fusion Energy on the proliferation of nuclear weapons information and technology, as appropriate. The Panel will examine technology options, but will not provide recommendations specific to any currently operating or proposed ICF facility.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Statements of Task." National Research Council. 2012. Interim Report—Status of the Study "An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy". Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13371.
×
Page 19
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Statements of Task." National Research Council. 2012. Interim Report—Status of the Study "An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy". Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13371.
×
Page 20
Next: Appendix C: Panel Membership and Staff for the Panel on the Assessment of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Targets »
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The scientific and technological progress in inertial confinement fusion has been substantial during the past decade. However, many of the technologies needed for an integrated inertial fusion energy system are still at an early stage of technological maturity. For all approaches to inertial fusion energy there remain critical scientific and engineering challenges.

In this interim report of the study An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy, the Committee on the Prospects for Inertial Confinement Fusion Energy Systems outlines their preliminary conclusions and recommendations of the feasibility of inertial fusion energy. The committee also describes its anticipated next steps as it prepares its final report.

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