Plasma Radiation Balance

Balancing useful radiation against radiated energy loss.

Balance

Useful vs lost radiation

A plasma radiates via bremsstrahlung, synchrotron and line emission. Some radiation is useful (protecting the divertor), some is pure loss (especially at high temperature or impurity content). Balancing the radiation budget is part of closing the power balance, and it especially matters for the hot D–³He burner.

The burner's reflective liner returns synchrotron radiation to help this balance.