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.
Common questions
Bremsstrahlung and line radiation drain energy from the plasma, setting a floor on the temperature a given fuel needs to stay net-positive. It matters most for the hot, purity-sensitive D–³He burner.
With a clean plasma and a reflective liner that returns radiation to the plasma, improving the balance. The liner's reflectivity trades against its neutron activation, which Kronos flags openly.