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1990
TFTR sets world records for ion temperature-- 400 million degrees C-- and fusion
power production-- 60,000 watts-- in deuterium plasmas.
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1991
Ronald C. Davidson becomes the fourth director of PPPL.
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1993
In December, TFTR achieves a world-record 6.3 million watts of fusion
power in the world's first magnetic fusion experiments with a 50/50 mixture
of deuterium and tritium.
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1994
In May, TFTR produces a new world record of 9.2 million watts of fusion
power in 50/50 deuterium-tritium experiments.
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In June, confined alpha particles are successfully detected in the TFTR
plasma core and do not drive significant plasma instabilities, nor do they
accumulate in the plasma. These results are very promising for the eventual
production of self-sustained plasmas.
In November, TFTR produces a new world record of 10.7 million watts
of fusion power.
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1995
In February, TFTR produces a new world-record ion temperature of 510
million degrees C.
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In April, indications of alpha particle heating are identified during TFTR
deuterium-tritium experiments. This bodes well for the attainment of
self-heated or "burning" plasmas in future devices.
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In July, scientists increase TFTR's central density up to three-fold and reduce
particle leakage by a factor of 50 using the enhanced reversed-shear mode,
discovered on TFTR. This could eventually lead to smaller, more economical
fusion power plants.
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In July, engineering design begins for the National Spherical Torus
Experiment (NSTX).
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In October, the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) begins operation.
Experiments on MRX will study the physics of magnetic reconnection-- the
topological breaking and reconnection of magnetic field lines in plasmas.
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1997
The Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor completes its last series of experiments
on April 4 following nearly 15 years of operation.
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In July, Robert J. Goldston becomes the fifth director of the Princeton
Plasma Physics Laboratory.
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1999
NSTX creates "first plasma" on February 12, following a national design and
construction effort completed 10 weeks ahead of schedule.
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