C. Heiss (EPFL)
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Since the 1950s, nuclear fusion has promised a future with an abundant and safe energy source.
However, to this day, fusion power plants remain a distant dream, always 30 years away.
In this talk, I aim to present some basics of nuclear fusion and plasma physics as well as giving
a peek into the inner workings of the tokamak, the currently most promising concept for a fusion reactor.
We will explore some mathematical principles of magnetically confined plasmas, the difficulties
fusion scientists are faced with, and where we currently stand on the path to a sustainable power source.