D. J. Campbell

Physics and goals of RTO/RC-ITER

The ITER design activities are now focused on the development of a design for a tokamak burning plasma experiment which will achieve Q = 10 in long-pulse, inductively driven plasmas and which aims to demonstrate steady-state operation at Q = 5 using non-inductive current drive. The device is designed to allow operational flexibility in plasma equilibrium and operating scenarios, and it is intended that the possibility of ignited operation under favourable plasma scenarios should not be excluded. A final design and parameter set has not yet been selected, but considerable progress has been made in developing a series of candidate designs which allow the critical physics and engineering issues to be explored. Here the physics underlying the design options and performance projections, as well as the physics issues to be addressed in the proposed experiment, are analysed.

Report on the 5th European Fusion Physics Workshop, Sesimbra, Portugal, 10-12 December 1997

The 5th EFPW took place in December 1997 at Sesimbra in Portugal. It was hosted by the Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon and sponsored by the European Commission. Within an overall theme of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) phenomena in magnetically confined plasmas, four topics of importance to the future development of magnetic confinement fusion were discussed in detail: integrated control of fusion plasmas, MHD in advanced scenarios, neoclassical modes and disruptions. In addition, an extended review of the results of the recent JET deuterium-tritium experiments was presented and the physics research opportunities which would be made available by ITER operation were discussed. The main issues discussed in each session and the areas identified as requiring further study are summarized here.

Report on the 8th European Fusion Physics Workshop, Leysin, Switzerland, 13-15 December 2000

The 8th European Fusion Physics Workshop took place in December 2000 at Leysin in Switzerland. It was hosted by the Association CRPP-Euratom, Lausanne and sponsored by the European Commission. Within an overall theme of Transport in Magnetic Fusion Plasmas, five topics of importance to the future development of magnetically confined fusion were discussed in detail. In addition, a review of the first year of JET experiments under the European Fusion Development Agreement and the results of the ITER Technology Research and Development programme were presented. The main issues discussed in each session and the areas identified as requiring further study are summarized here.

Report on the 7th European Fusion Physics Workshop, Kloster Seeon, Germany, 8-10 December 1999

The 7th EFPW took place in December 1999 at Kloster Seeon in Germany. It was hosted by the Association IPP-Euratom, Garching and sponsored by the European Commission. Within an overall theme of plasma heating and current drive systems, four topics of importance to the future development of magnetically confined fusion were discussed in detail: the injection of heating, current and momentum; the interplay between heating systems and transport barriers; MHD control issues for heating and current drive systems; and energetic particle physics. In addition, a review of recent JET experiments, the organization of the JET scientific programme under EFDA and the new ITER design were presented. The main issues discussed in each session and the areas identified as requiring further study are summarized here.