Tokamaks (International Series of Monographs on Physics) [Hardcover]

John Wesson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198509227 | ISBN-13: 978-0198509226 | Publication Date: January 29, 2004 | Edition: 3

The tokamak (a doughnut-shaped vacuum chamber surrounded by magnetic coils) is the principal tool in controlled fusion research. This book acts as an introduction to the subject and a basic reference for theory, definitions, equations and experimental results. Since the first introductory account of tokamaks in 1987, when the tokamak had become the predominant device in the attempt to achieve a useful power source from the thermonuclear fusion, and the developments and advances in the subject covered in the second edition in 1997, following substantial research on large tokamaks (the long awaited achievement of significant amounts of fusion power and the problems involved in designing and building a tokamak reactor), the emphasis has been on preparing the ground for an experimental reactor. In addition, there have been further significant advanced in understanding plasma behavior, such as the wider experience of internal transport barriers, the appreciation of the role of tearing models driven by neoclassical effects and insights from turbulence simulations. The third edition brings all of this up-to-date, building on the introductory account and developments of the first and second editions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The tokamak is the predominant device used to try to wring useful power from thermonuclear fusion. Wesson and a number of collaborating colleagues provide specialists already working in tokamak research with information about other areas of the subject, and those outside the field with an introduction to the principal concepts, methods, and problems involved. He includes equations, formulas, and data that research workers often need. Among the topics are fusion, equilibrium, confinement, instabilities, diagnostics, plasma-surface interactions, and large tokamakis. He has updated the 1987 and 1997 editions to reflect developments in the science and technology." --SciTech Book News

About the Author

J.Wesson is a Senior Theoretical Physicist at JET Joint Undertaking, Abingdon, Oxon.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 768 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 3 edition (January 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198509227
• ISBN-13: 978-0198509226
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,627,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars latest research results, November 26, 2004

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This review is from: Tokamaks (International Series of Monographs on Physics) (Hardcover)

If fusion is to become a practical reality, the design and usage of tokamaks will play a central role. Here is a research level summary of the latest [2004] about tokamaks. The book is very specialised; geared towards the professional physicist in this field. And to graduate students struggling with outdated texts.

Different geometries of tokamaks are explained, with comparisons of their relative capabilities. Overall, the emphasis seems to be on the experimental issues. Though you can see discussions of the nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic equations that make theoretical analysis so difficult.

An overall impression of the book is that we have far to go in pushing the density*confinement product towards a fusion regime.