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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Sircombe N (2006) Kinetic effects in laser-plasma coupling: Vlasov theory and computations in Journal de Physique IV (Proceedings)

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Gimblett C (2006) The role of edge current-driven modes in ELM activity in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Sharapov S (2006) Alfvén cascades in JET discharges with NBI-heating in Nuclear Fusion

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De Vries P (2006) Plasma rotation and momentum transport studies at JET in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Nguyen-Manh D (2006) Multi-scale modelling of materials for fusion power plants in Computational Materials Science

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Helander P (2006) Tokamak current driven by poloidally asymmetric fueling in Physics of Plasmas

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Boboc A (2006) Simultaneous Cotton-Mouton and Faraday rotation angle measurements on JET in Review of Scientific Instruments

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Brutti S (2006) Lattice stability of Ca, Sr and Yb disilicides in Intermetallics

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Nicholls RJ (2006) Simulated electron energy loss spectra from a C70 crystal. in Micron (Oxford, England : 1993)

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Cottrell G (2006) A survey of plasma facing materials for fusion power plants in Materials Science and Technology

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Santala M (2006) Proton-triton nuclear reaction in ICRF heated plasmas in JET in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Berk H (2006) Explanation of the JET n = 0 chirping mode in Nuclear Fusion

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Conway N (2006) High-throughput charge exchange recombination spectroscopy system on MAST in Review of Scientific Instruments

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Kiptily V (2006) Gamma ray diagnostics of high temperature magnetically confined fusion plasmas in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Leonard A (2006) Survey of Type I ELM dynamics measurements in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Forrest R (2006) Data requirements for neutron activation in Fusion Engineering and Design

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Kuldkepp M (2006) Motional Stark effect diagnostic pilot experiment for MAST in Review of Scientific Instruments

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Dudarev SL (2006) Angular-dependent matrix potentials for fast molecular-dynamics simulations of transition metals. in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal

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Chapman S (2006) Perpendicular Shock Reformation and Ion Acceleration in Space Science Reviews

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Gryaznevich M (2006) Perturbative and non-perturbative modes in START and MAST in Nuclear Fusion

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Murari A (2006) New diagnostic techniques and technologies at JET (invited) in Review of Scientific Instruments

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Forrest R (2006) Data requirements for neutron activation in Fusion Engineering and Design

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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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Garcia O (2006) Radial interchange motions of plasma filaments in Physics of Plasmas