What is the most efficient method for heating plasma in fusion reactors?

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The discussion centers on the efficiency of various plasma heating techniques in fusion reactors, specifically ohmic heating, RF heating, and neutral beam injection. Participants explore which method converts the most input electricity into plasma kinetic energy, with a suggestion that ohmic heating may have the highest efficiency. Additionally, the potential for achieving higher fusion temperatures through increased gas density and pressure while using ohmic heating is considered, drawing parallels to gas discharge tube scenarios. The conversation raises questions about the maximum particle energy that could be achieved under these conditions. Overall, the efficiency of heating methods and their impact on fusion performance are key points of interest.
artis
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Hi,

of all the main plasma heating techniques employed by multiple fusion reactor designs, namely
1) ohmic heating
2)RF
3)neutral beam
4)some other method?

Which of them is the most efficient in terms of how much of the input electricity gets converted to direct heat/kinetic energy of the plasma particles percentage wise?

Also if we could somehow (for the sake of the argument magically) achieve a much higher gas and resultant plasma density/pressure and still contain it with EM and B fields could we get to much higher fusion temperatures by simply using ohmic heating?
Imagine a sort of gas discharge tube scenario where we have a container filled with high pressure D-T and we have a low voltage high current source and a high voltage starter , we start an arc or ionization channel through the gas by the HV and then the low voltage high current "burns" for some time and creates large temperatures and pressures, I wonder what would be the maximum particle energy achieved in such a way ?
 
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PS. just to add i think in terms of how much of the input electricity gets converted to particle kinetic energy , ohmic heating might be the highest efficiency mechanism , am I correct in assuming this?
 
What type of energy is actually stored inside an atom? When an atom is split—such as in a nuclear explosion—it releases enormous energy, much of it in the form of gamma-ray electromagnetic radiation. Given this, is it correct to say that the energy stored in the atom is fundamentally electromagnetic (EM) energy? If not, how should we properly understand the nature of the energy that binds the nucleus and is released during fission?

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