UK Fusion Programme 2008-2010
Lead Research Organisation:
CCFE/UKAEA
Department Name: Culham Centre for Fusion Energy
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
Liu Y
(2009)
Modelling resistive wall modes in ITER with self-consistent inclusion of drift kinetic resonances
in Nuclear Fusion
Björkas C
(2009)
Modelling radiation effects using the ab-initio based tungsten and vanadium potentials
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Y Liu (Author)
(2009)
Modelling of resonant field amplification in JET
Orsitto F
(2008)
Modelling of polarimetry measurements at JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Strachan J
(2008)
Modelling of carbon migration during JET 13 C injection experiments
in Nuclear Fusion
S E Sharapov (Co-Author)
(2008)
Modelling of beam-driven high frequency Alfvén eigenmodes in MAST
L Appel (Co-Author)
(2008)
Modelling observations of mode polarisation from MAST
Martin J
(2008)
Modelling dust transport in tokamaks
in EPL (Europhysics Letters)
Zastrow KD
(2008)
Modeling the effect of reflection from metallic walls on spectroscopic measurements.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Duffy D
(2009)
Modeling plasma facing materials for fusion power
in Materials Today
Nguyen-Manh D
(2009)
Model many-body Stoner Hamiltonian for binary FeCr alloys
in Physical Review B
S C Cowley (Co-Author)
(2008)
Model collision operators for numerical gyrokinetics
C D Challis (Co-Author)
(2009)
MHD stability limit analysis in JET high _N advanced scenarios
Saarelma S
(2009)
MHD stability analysis of small ELM regimes in JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
B Alper (Author)
(2009)
MHD mode localisation in the JET tokamak
García-Muñoz M
(2009)
MHD induced fast-ion losses on ASDEX Upgrade
in Nuclear Fusion
Bonheure G
(2017)
Mega-Electron-Volt Ion Loss Measurements in JET D- 3 He Plasmas Using Activation Technique
in Fusion Science and Technology
Arcis N
(2008)
Mechanism of neoclassical tearing modes triggering by a magnetic perturbation
in Physics Letters A
V Kiptily (Co-Author)
(2008)
Mechanical design of the upgraded JET gamma-ray cameras
in Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials
Borthwick A
(2009)
Mechanical design features and challenges for the ITER ICRH antenna
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Murari A
(2008)
Measuring the radiation field and radiation hard detectors at JET: Recent developments
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
N J Conway (Co-Author)
(2008)
Measurements of plasma rotation in the MAST tokamak using high resolution charge-exchange spectroscopy
Lescure C
(2009)
Measurement of disruption forces in JET using fiber-optic sensors
Muir D
(2008)
MAST's Integrated Data Access Management system: IDAM
in Fusion Engineering and Design
M J Windridge (Author)
(2008)
MAST plasma response investigations using DINA-CH
Itoh N
(2009)
Making tracks: electronic excitation roles in forming swift heavy ion tracks.
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Webster AJ
(2009)
Magnetohydrodynamic stability of a toroidal plasma's separatrix.
in Physical review letters
Webster A
(2009)
Magnetohydrodynamic stability at a separatrix. II. Determination by new conformal map technique
in Physics of Plasmas
Webster A
(2009)
Magnetohydrodynamic stability at a separatrix. I. Toroidal peeling modes and the energy principle
in Physics of Plasmas
S E Sharapov (Author)
(2008)
Magnetic turbulence associated with confinement changes in JET
Nguyen-Manh D
(2009)
Magnetic properties of point defect interaction with impurity atoms in Fe-Cr alloys
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Liu Y
(2008)
Magnetic drift kinetic damping of the resistive wall mode in large aspect ratio tokamaks
in Physics of Plasmas
Lavrentiev M
(2009)
Magnetic cluster expansion simulations of FeCr alloys
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
McAdams R
(2008)
Low Temperature Plasma Assisted Catalytic Reduction of NO x in Simulated Marine Diesel Exhaust
in Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing
Bém P
(2009)
Low and medium energy deuteron-induced reactions on Al 27
in Physical Review C
LI G
(2009)
Local structure variations in Al89La6Ni5 metallic glass
in Acta Materialia
Neto A
(2009)
Linux real-time framework for fusion devices
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Portone A
(2008)
Linearly perturbed MHD equilibria and 3D eddy current coupling via the control surface method
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Barnes M
(2009)
Linearized model Fokker-Planck collision operators for gyrokinetic simulations. II. Numerical implementation and tests
in Physics of Plasmas
Abel I
(2008)
Linearized model Fokker-Planck collision operators for gyrokinetic simulations. I. Theory
in Physics of Plasmas
J W Connor (Author)
(2008)
Linear tearing mode stability equations for a low collisionality:Some details
Connor J
(2009)
Linear tearing mode stability equations for a low collisionality toroidal plasma
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Karditsas P
(2008)
Lifetime performance analysis of HCPB power plant in-vessel components using HERCULES
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Krychowiak M
(2008)
LIF measurements on an atomic helium beam in the edge of a fusion plasma
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
K K Kirov (Author)
(2009)
LH wave absorption and current drive studies by application of modulated LHCD at JET
Baranov Y
(2009)
LH power modulation experiment on JET
Jacquet P
(2009)
LH Power Losses In Front of the JET Launcher
Brutti S
(2008)
Lattice stability of intermediate phases of the Sr-Si system
in Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Ma P
(2008)
Large-scale simulation of the spin-lattice dynamics in ferromagnetic iron
in Physical Review B
| 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 |