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Abstract: Spin is a powerful concept that transcends fields as diverse as art, physics, and engineering. In the context of nuclear fusion, controlling the nuclear spin of fusion fuel could dramatically improve the feasibility of a clean, abundant energy source [1]. Although fusion energy faces a range of scientific and engineering challenges, three stand out as especially critical across most design concepts: a) Achieving tritium self-sufficiency—the ability to generate and recover enough tritium within the reactor’s blanket to sustain ongoing operations; b) Boosting net electric power—ensuring fusion power plants produce significantly more electricity than they consume; and c) Mitigating materials degradation—limiting the effects of intense neutron bombardment on critical power plant components.

Spin-polarized fuel (SPF), created by deliberately orienting the nuclear spins in deuterium-tritium (D-T) fuel, offers a promising way to address these hurdles. Polarization can enhance the D-T fusion cross-section by up to 50%, while the resulting anisotropic neutron and alpha particle emission helps tritium self-sufficiency, operating costs, and material damage. Yet, questions remain about whether polarization survives in the harsh plasma environment, where processes such as nucleus-wave interactions could depolarize the fuel. Validating these theoretical depolarization mechanisms experimentally is essential for the practical realization of SPF.

In this talk, I will present recent results for SPF [2-4] and describe experiments [5-7] aimed at assessing SPF’s viability under realistic conditions. I will also describe a new method capable of achieving high polarization at fueling rates applicable to commercial-scale fusion power plants. Beyond enabling higher performance in current D-T fusion devices, nuclear spin polarization may enable a host of other breakthroughs—ranging from compact, high-flux neutron sources to revitalized fusion concepts currently on the margins of feasibility.

By harnessing the quantum potential of spin, we can strengthen near-term fusion experiments and set a course for future power plant designs that could accelerate bringing cost-competitive fusion energy to the world. Instead of delaying its implementation, developing SPF now could expedite the deployment of first-generation fusion power plants, reducing both time-to-market and costs. This talk outlines a roadmap for continuing SPF research and other spin-based innovations to unlock fusion’s potential.

Hosted by Professor Muni Zhou

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