UK Fusion Programme 2008-2010
Lead Research Organisation:
CCFE/UKAEA
Abstract
Fusion is the main energy source of the universe; it is the process that powers the sun and the stars. If it can be harnessed economically on earth, it has the potential to be an important component of the portfolio of measures needed to ensure a secure, environmentally responsible, supply of energy, at a time when fossil fuels will be becoming increasingly expensive. There is increasing realisation of this potential as reflected by the launch of the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, being built in France, which will be the first fusion device to achieve energy gain and sustained burn.In a fusion reaction, large amounts of energy are released when the nuclei of two light atoms fuse together at extremely high temperatures to create a nucleus of a larger atom. In the most promising way to achieve these conditions on earth, strong magnetic fields in a tokamak configuration are used to control and confine the high temperature plasma.UKAEA's Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire is one of the world's leading fusion research centres, and 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. International co-operation is strong with the focus on the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER). EURATOM part-funds all national programmes in Europe including the UK's.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, utilising parallel- and super-computing facilities, supports the experimental programmes and contributes to the research and development of fusion materials and to studies of conceptual fusion power stations. The UK leads the research and development of two ITER specialist (diagnostic and heating) systems, and participates in several others 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 technology are pursued strongly, where the research overlaps with fusion R&D, and increasingly there are fusion researchers in universities with whom UKAEA works.The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the European Commission fund, provide advice and monitor the UK fusion programme (some of the European funding / for work on ITER systems - is now channelled through the new Fusion for Energy Agency in Barcelona). The Fusion Advisory Board (FAB) advises EPSRC and UKAEA on the programme and on the longer-term strategy for fusion research at Culham; FAB receives reports from the MAST Programme Advisory Committee, a sub-group on ITER and industry, and an annual UK Fusion Materials Forum.
Organisations
Publications
Li-Puma A
(2008)
The MK III actively cooled duct liner for the JET neutral beam line: Thermo-mechanical performance and lifetime estimation
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Sjöstrand H
(2008)
Triton burn-up neutron emission in JET low current plasmas
in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
A Thyagaraja (Co-Author)
(2008)
Transport barriers in two dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence
Nazikian R
(2008)
Excitation of Alfvén eigenmodes by low energy beam ions in the DIII-D and JET tokamaks
in Physics of Plasmas
Forrest R
(2008)
Detailed analysis of (n,p) and (n,a) cross sections in the EAF-2007 and TALYS-generated libraries
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Gilbert M
(2008)
Structure and metastability of mesoscopic vacancy and interstitial loop defects in iron and tungsten
in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
T C Hender (Author)
(2008)
Kinetic effects on resistive wall mode stability
Moreau D
(2008)
A two-time-scale dynamic-model approach for magnetic and kinetic profile control in advanced tokamak scenarios on JET
in Nuclear Fusion
R A Forrest (Author)
(2008)
Validation of EASY-2007 using integral measurements
Chapman I
(2008)
Sawtooth control using off-axis NBI
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Dudson B
(2008)
Experiments and simulation of edge turbulence and filaments in MAST
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Kempenaars M
(2008)
Enhancement of the JET edge LIDAR Thomson scattering diagnostic with ultrafast detectors.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Brix M
(2008)
Accuracy of EFIT equilibrium reconstruction with internal diagnostic information at JET.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Andrew Y
(2008)
H-mode access on JET and implications for ITER
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Gryaznevich M
(2008)
Experimental studies of stability and beta limit in JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Maddison G
(2008)
Visualization of Internal Magnetic Structure During Pellet Refueling of MAST Tokamak Plasmas
in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Rattá GA
(2008)
Feature extraction for improved disruption prediction analysis at JET.
in The Review of scientific instruments
W Arter (Author)
(2008)
Role of symmetry in magnetically confined plasmas
Alfier A
(2008)
Edge T e and n e profiles during type-I ELM mitigation experiments with perturbation fields on JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Kovari M
(2008)
Thermographic measurement of the emittance plot of a single positive ion beamlet.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Khakshouri S
(2008)
Development of an electron-temperature-dependent interatomic potential for molecular dynamics simulation of tungsten under electronic excitation
in Physical Review B
A Thyagaraja (Co-Author)
(2008)
Study of radial transport of tracers in CUTIE
Flanagan JC
(2008)
The effect of periodicity on the defect modes of large mode area microstructured fibers.
in Optics express
Murari A
(2008)
Innovative diagnostics for ITER physics addressed in JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
McDonald D
(2008)
JET confinement studies and their scaling to high ß N , ITER scenarios
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Windsor C
(2008)
Prediction of the Charpy transition temperature in highly irradiated ferritic steels
in Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering
Y Andrew (Co-Author)
(2008)
Radial electric field profiles in JET advanced tokamak scenarios
Aggarwal K
(2008)
Energy levels and radiative rates for transitions in B-like to F-like Kr ions (Kr XXXII-XXVIII)
in Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables
Hirai T
(2008)
Thermal load testing of erosion-monitoring beryllium marker tile for the ITER-Like Wall Project at JET
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Fitzgerald SP
(2008)
Peierls potential for crowdions in the bcc transition metals.
in Physical review letters
I Cook (Author)
(2008)
'DEMO' and the route to fusion power
in ATW-International Journal for Nuclear Power
Ma P
(2008)
Large-scale simulation of the spin-lattice dynamics in ferromagnetic iron
in Physical Review B
Ribeiro C
(2008)
Evidence of cold bubble-like structure in START density limit plasmas
in Plasma Physics Reports
Giacomelli L
(2008)
Neutron emission spectroscopy results for internal transport barrier and mode conversion ion cyclotron resonance heating experiments at JET.
in The Review of scientific instruments
G Counsell (Co-Author)
(2008)
Comparison of measured and simulated parallel flows at the edge plasma of MAST
Peacock N
(2008)
Anticipated X-ray and VUV spectroscopic data from ITERwith appropriate diagnostic instrumentation
in Canadian Journal of Physics
Pitts R
(2009)
The impact of large ELMs on JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Riccardo V
(2009)
Progress in understanding halo current at JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Mantica P
(2009)
Experimental study of the ion critical-gradient length and stiffness level and the impact of rotation in the JET tokamak.
in Physical review letters
Hooker M
(2009)
Industrialization of Radiation-Resistant Cyanate Ester Magnet Insulation
in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity
Beurskens M
(2009)
Pedestal width and ELM size identity studies in JET and DIII-D; implications for ITER
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Wilson H
(2009)
The influence of magnetic islands on drift mode stability in magnetized plasma
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
M Turnyanskiy (Author)
(2009)
Current profile control studies on MAST
V G Kiptily (Author)
(2009)
Recent progress in fast-ion physics on JET
Rapp J
(2009)
Integrated scenario with type-III ELMy H-mode edge: extrapolation to ITER
in Nuclear Fusion
Albanese R
(2009)
ITER vertical stabilization system
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Nicol R
(2009)
QUANTIFYING THE ANISOTROPY AND SOLAR CYCLE DEPENDENCE OF "1/ f " SOLAR WIND FLUCTUATIONS OBSERVED BY ADVANCED COMPOSITION EXPLORER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Nguyen-Manh D
(2009)
Magnetic properties of point defect interaction with impurity atoms in Fe-Cr alloys
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
K G McClements (Author)
(2009)
The orbital dynamics and collisional transport of trace massive impurity ions in rotating plasmas
Murari A
(2009)
Recent developments in data mining and soft computing for JET with a view on ITER
in Fusion Engineering and Design
| Description | Fusion research is focused on ITER (the international experiment being built in France) followed by a demonstration power station (DEMO). The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) is a world-leading fusion research centre. Some highlights from the last two years are summarised below (many the result of collaborations with universities and overseas laboratories). Additional information is in Annual Reports (http://www.ccfe.ac.uk/annual_reports.aspx). Reacting plasmas: The UK programme, funded by EPSRC and EURATOM, is focused on the MAST experiment. Physics studies benefited from high power heating systems and improvements to diagnostics. A major upgrade to the system to measure temperature and density profiles (part funded by York University) was completed and provides unmatched spatial resolution. Important progress from both MAST, and the linked Theory and Modelling programme, has been made in several key areas directly relevant to optimising ITER performance:- energy confinement, enabling more reliable prediction of plasma performance in future devices; control of potentially damaging instabilities; improved understanding of performance limiting core and edge plasma instabilities; gas injection to mitigate the effects of rapid plasma terminations (disruptions), etc. CCFE has contributed to the European JET programme, with notable achievements including operation at high power and current, and substantial progress in scenarios that are suitable for steady state operation in ITER. The EPSRC grant pays the UK contribution to JET operation. Materials: Work included: development of techniques for modelling iron-chromium alloys in the high-temperature limit; modelling of steels and tungsten to compare with experimental data from Oxford University; Ion Beam Analysis measurements of erosion, deposition and hydrogen-isotope retention in tiles removed from the JET tokamak. ITER Systems: CCFE has secured lead roles in two major grants to develop ITER heating systems, and leads a consortium to bid for the LIDAR temperature and density measurement system. CCFE has smaller roles in several other areas. Optimised power plants: Work has concentrated on a detailed assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of pulsed and steady-state DEMOs. Several clear advantages in a steady-state device were identified, however the potential simplification in a pulsed device (greatly reduced need for current drive) is a significant counter-advantage. Conceptual design studies of a spherical tokamak Component Test Facility have continued. A big challenge for any fusion system is dealing with the large exhaust power from burning plasmas. One novel promising option, for both DEMO and CTF, which will be part of the MAST upgrade, is the "Super-X" expanded divertor. Major upgrade to MAST: the design has been developed. The purpose is to give higher performance, longer pulse plasmas allowing definitive tests of the physics of an ST-based CTF, and more exacting studies of ITER physics. In late 2009, RCUK reviewed UK fusion research and following this EPSRC approved funding for the upgrade. In addition CCFE has promoted industry involvement in fusion and significantly assisted UK companies in winning ITER business, increased university involvement (e.g. PhDs), and developed its skills-base for an increased emphasis on technology as recommended by the RCUK review. |
| Exploitation Route | In addition CCFE has promoted industry involvement in fusion and significantly assisted UK companies in winning ITER business, increased university involvement (e.g. PhDs), and developed its skills-base for an increased emphasis on technology as recommended by the RCUK review. |
| Sectors | Energy |
| URL | http://www.ccfe.ac.uk/annual_reports.aspx |
| Description | As well as its long term task, developing fusion power, CCFE has promoted industry involvement in fusion. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |