UK Fusion Programme

Lead Research Organisation: CCFE/UKAEA
Department Name: Culham Centre for Fusion Energy

Abstract

Fusion is the energy-releasing process that powers the sun and other stars. If it can be harnessed economically on earth it would be an essentially limitless source of safe, environmentally responsible energy. Fusion energy is therefore strongly mission-orientated. The most promising method uses strong magnetic fields in a tokamak configuration to allow a high temperature deuterium-tritium plasma to be generated while minimising contact with the surrounding material surfaces.The UK contributes to fusion research in two ways: (i) through the UK's own programme focused on the spherical tokamak experiment MAST, and (ii) by contributing to the Joint European Torus (JET) programme. The MAST and JET facilities are situated at Culham Science Centre. International co-operation is strong with the focus on the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER), which will be the first fusion device to achieve energy gain and sustained burn.Experimental programmes on the MAST and JET tokamaks are performed to help resolve and refine understanding of key physics issues for ITER. In addition, experimental programmes on MAST focus on testing the potential of the spherical tokamak as a more compact option for future fusion devices. A strong theory and modelling group supports the experimental programmes and contributes to the research and development of fusion materials and to studies of conceptual fusion power stations. Expansion of the research and development of ITER specialist (i.e. diagnostic and heating) systems, focuses on securing major roles for the UK in the provision of two or three of these large complex projects.The results of the research are presented in reports and publications, and at conferences, expert groups and specialist committees. Collaborations with researchers in other areas of science and technologies are pursued strongly, where the research overlaps with fusion R&D.

Publications

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Von Hellermann M (2006) Status of the DNB based ITER CXRS and BES diagnostic in Review of Scientific Instruments

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DERLET P (2007) Million-atom molecular dynamics simulations of magnetic iron in Progress in Materials Science

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Connor J (2006) Magnetic geometry, plasma profiles, and stability in Plasma Physics Reports

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Connor J (2006) Stability of the trapped electron mode in steep density and temperature gradients in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Sircombe N (2006) Aspects of electron acoustic wave physics in laser backscatter from plasmas in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Weisen H (2006) Scaling of density peaking in JET H-modes and implications for ITER in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Dieckmann M (2006) Two-stream instability in collisionless shocks and foreshock in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Meyer H (2008) Active control of the H-mode transition on MAST in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Borba D (2006) Confinement transitions (H-mode) in JET inner wall limiter plasmas in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Rozhansky V (2006) Modelling of radial electric field profile for different divertor configurations in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Ahn J (2006) L-mode SOL width scaling in the MAST spherical tokamak in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Kaye S (2006) The role of aspect ratio and beta in H-mode confinement scalings in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Saarelma S (2007) MHD stability analysis of ELMs in MAST in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Joiner N (2006) Electron temperature gradient driven transport in a MAST H-mode plasma in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Andrew Y (2006) H-mode access in the low density regime on JET in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Kirk A (2006) Filament structures at the plasma edge on MAST in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Lönnroth J (2007) Effects of ripple-induced ion thermal transport on H-mode plasma performance in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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James M (2006) Tearing mode stability in a sheared slab model of the tokamak plasma in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion