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

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

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Forrest R (2007) Statistical analysis of cross sections-A new tool for data validation in Fusion Engineering and Design

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Eriksson L (2006) On ion cyclotron current drive for sawtooth control in Nuclear Fusion

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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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Dudarev S (2007) Driven mobility of self-interstitial defects under electron irradiation in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

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Dnestrovskij Y (2007) Analysis of pressure profiles and transport simulations of MAST discharges in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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Dnestrovskij Y (2006) Self-consistency of pressure profiles in tokamaks in Nuclear 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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DERLET P (2007) Million-atom molecular dynamics simulations of magnetic iron in Progress in Materials Science

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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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De Vries P (2008) Effect of toroidal field ripple on plasma rotation in JET in Nuclear Fusion

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Darrow D (2006) Initial results from the lost alpha diagnostics on Joint European Torus in Review of Scientific Instruments

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Cruz N (2006) JET real-time project test-bench software structure in Fusion Engineering and Design

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Cottrell G (2013) A survey of plasma facing materials for fusion power plants in Materials Science and Technology

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

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Coccorese V (2006) Assessment of new ex-vessel magnetic measurements in JET in Review of Scientific Instruments

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Christiansen J (2006) Self-consistent plasma modelling by Monte Carlo test particles in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

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

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

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Boswell C (2006) Observation and explanation of the JET chirping mode in Physics Letters A

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

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Bilyková O (2006) COMPASS-D magnetic equilibria with lh and NBI current drive in Czechoslovak Journal of Physics

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Berk H (2006) Explanation of the JET n = 0 chirping mode in Nuclear 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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Ahn J (2006) L-mode SOL width scaling in the MAST spherical tokamak in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion