A generalized analysis of power balance for fusion reactors

The characteristics of a fusion reactor and the physical processes occurring in the plasma interact in a complex way to establish limits on the ion number density, kinetic temperature, and containment time within which net power production is possible. These limits on the plasma parameters are determined for an idealized fusion reactor which illustrates the interplay of important constraining factors. This model defines, to a moderately good approximation. The performance envelope within which fusion reactors must operate