The Dichotomy of Fusion Energy and America's Role in the Process

Indianapolis, IN

This Paper is a study of the role America currently plays and the role it should be playing in regard to the development and implementation of nuclear fusion energy. The paper begins by comparing the two leading designs for fusion generators using the examples of the National Ignition Facility and ITER as the pinnacle of both technologies. The National Ignition Facility Exemplifies the laser ignition approach while ITER exemplifies the tokamakignition process. It then shows how the American approach is currently more advanced due to recent breakthroughs at NIF and advocates for a shift of American resources from other areas of alternative energy research and development to the fusion energy project at the National Ignition Facility. Specifically the paper calls for an end to farther development of wind and solar power due to the fact that they cannot meet our energy needs without the assistance of our dwindling fossil fuel reserves.