Burning Plasmas: Fast Ions Role

This lecture covers the definition and specificities of a burning plasma, the role of fast ions in plasma external and self-heating, fast ion losses, field imperfections, low frequency MHD modes, turbulence, resonant interaction with Alfvén waves, burn stability, and control. It explains the DT fusion reaction, energy balance, operational limits, heating scenarios, transport, and turbulence. The instructor discusses the implications for reactor operation, tritium retention, dust production, and the effects of Alfvén waves on fast ions. The lecture also addresses fast ion losses due to three-dimensional B-fields, collisional slowing down, electron heating, and interaction with Alfvén waves in a tokamak. It concludes with a summary highlighting the challenges of sustaining burning plasmas and the progress made in understanding the complex dynamics.