High-temperature plasma physics

The author provides a broad review of plasma physics. He begins with a historical perspective on the early work with plasmas, and moves to the present day where most research funding is directed toward very results oriented work aimed at the commercial exploitation of fusion power. There are two main fronts on which this work is being conducted. First is the general area of magnetic confinement, where strong magnetic fields are used to confine a large, but relatively diffuse plasma as it is heated. The second is inertial confinement, where intense beams, either of photons or particles, are used to compress and heat a tiny target to very high densities, and temperatures, hopefully reaching the point of energy breakeven. Both of these approaches have many hurdles, from fundamental instability problems, to funding, to restraints of classified work, to practical problems of materials properties and equipment maintenance, to public pressure for economic progress. Sections of the paper expand on each approach, touching on specific experiments, concepts, and the results of nonclassified work. The final section touches on practical applications of high temperature plasma physics, with emphasis on x-ray lasers