1.2.3 Magnetic Fusion
Research scale of MCF is bigger than ICF. MCF is to realize fusion energy by
confining the fusion temperature plasma (~10 keV) stationary with magnetic field.
The three big Tokamaks have accomplished great progress of MCF research in the
1980s. These Tokamaks (JET, TFTR, JT-60) were shutdown after DT or DD fusion
reaction demonstration independently. The hot days of fusion energy research are
vividly described, for example, in a book from the beginning of the fusion research
including laser fusion [17].
The big Tokamak activities are unified to the international thermonuclear
experimental reactor (ITER) project, which is initiated by the superpower summit
at Geneva in 1985 as international project for peaceful purpose proposed by
Gorbachev to Regan as a symbol of the end of Cold War [18]. Tokamak ITER has
a complicated structure as shown in Fig. 1.11. The plasma is confined in the vacuum
of D-shaped donut by the wall shown with orange color. The vacuum donut is
designed to be encircled by superconducting current to generate strong magnetic
field.
Fig. 1.11 Artistic view of the structure of ITER Tokamak machine. The central torus-colored
orange is the vacuum vessel for confining fusion plasma by magnetic field
12
1 Introduction
Research scale of MCF is bigger than ICF. MCF is to realize fusion energy by
confining the fusion temperature plasma (~10 keV) stationary with magnetic field.
The three big Tokamaks have accomplished great progress of MCF research in the
1980s. These Tokamaks (JET, TFTR, JT-60) were shutdown after DT or DD fusion
reaction demonstration independently. The hot days of fusion energy research are
vividly described, for example, in a book from the beginning of the fusion research
including laser fusion [17].
The big Tokamak activities are unified to the international thermonuclear
experimental reactor (ITER) project, which is initiated by the superpower summit
at Geneva in 1985 as international project for peaceful purpose proposed by
Gorbachev to Regan as a symbol of the end of Cold War [18]. Tokamak ITER has
a complicated structure as shown in Fig. 1.11. The plasma is confined in the vacuum
of D-shaped donut by the wall shown with orange color. The vacuum donut is
designed to be encircled by superconducting current to generate strong magnetic
field.
Fig. 1.11 Artistic view of the structure of ITER Tokamak machine. The central torus-colored
orange is the vacuum vessel for confining fusion plasma by magnetic field
12
1 Introduction