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P: Plasmaphysik

P V: HV V

P V.1: Invited Talk

Wednesday, April 4, 2001, 15:00–15:30, 2053

Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion: A true challenge for an immense reward — •Jef Ongena — Institut für Plasmaphysik, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany

The lecture will review the basic principles of fusion reactions and show the enormous potential of this energy source for use on earth: excellent compatibility with our environment, virtual limitless ressources and inherent safety. /par The current status of nuclear fusion research will be reviewed, with as a special highlight, the results obtained on JET (Joint European Torus), the flagship of the European Fusion Programm. This device is currently the only one in the world allowing to perform full deuterium-tritium experiments, and has reached conditions very close to break-even in Nov. 1997, i.e. a demonstration of the scientific feasability of nuclear fusion or the production of the same amount of power from fusion reactions as is needed to heat the deuterium-tritium fuel to the extremely high temperatures required (at least 100 million degrees K).

The lecture will further highlight the restructuring of part of the European Fusion Programme, into the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA). This has also implications for the way JET is operated. Under this agreement JET is run with a direct participation from all Fusion Associations in Europe, i.e. much of the planning and analysis of the experiments on JET is done remotely, by fusion researchers all over Europe. Three experimental campaigns have been very succesfully run in this way and a fourth campaign is currently being executed. The success of these campaigns is a very promising sign for future developments in fusion, where remote participation is becoming more and more a necessity.

This is true, more in particular, for the next step fusion device ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) which will also be described in the lecture. The principal aim of this device is to show the technological feasibility of nuclear fusion. It will deliver a fusion power output between 500 and 1000MW. The construction of this device could start in some years, with first operation in about 2010.