4Nuclear Fusion Research and Development

Toward Practical Use of Fusion Energy
Fusion Plasma Research
Toward ITER and DEMO
○Develop Plasma
Performance for DEMO
○Support ITER
○Cultivate HumanResources
Large Tokamak Device JT-60
䡡㻌Exp. was completed䡡㻌Upgrade to JT-60SA started

DEMO
ReactorFusion Frontier Research

ITER Project
Domestic Agency for ITER Project
Demonstration of Fusion Energy
䡡㻌Cadarachein France䡡㻌Construction
Started inDec. 2007

JT-60

Develop Technological
Basis for DEMO
○R&D of Breeding Blanket○DEMO Design, R&D○Simulation of Burning
Plasma, TheoreticalModel○Remote Experiment○Engineering Validationand Engineering DesignActivities for IFMIF
International Fusion Energy
Research CenterBlanket

JT-60SABroader Approach (BA) Activities
Implementing Agency for BA Activities

Satellite Tokamak

Support ITER, Accelerate Early Realization of DEMO
･ International Fusion Energy Research Center･ Design Activity for Material Irradiation Facility･ Satellite Tokamak
Activities Started in June 2007

Design Activity for IFMIF

Fig.4-1 Steps involved in the development of fusion DEMO reactor
Fusion plasma research and fusion frontier research are being pursued to develop a DEMO reactor, aiming for early realization offusion energy.

Crucial Research and Development on Fusion PlasmaResearch and Fusion Frontier Research toward the practical useof fusion energy is being pursued through intensive international
cooperation, for example, the International Thermonuclear
Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, Broader Approach (BA)
activities, and other collaborations (Fig.4-1), aiming for early
realization of a fusion DEMO reactor.
ITER Project
The ITER project is an international cooperative project
to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility offusion energy through the construction and operation of anexperimental reactor. The ITER agreement came into force inOctober 2007, and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
was designated as the domestic agency for the ITER projectin Japan. The JAEA proceeded with preparing the equipmentthat Japan has agreed to provide and achieved various resultsin terms of technological development (Topics 4-1, 4-2). In
particular, the JAEA began the production of a superconducting
coil for the actual machine ahead of any other country
participating in ITER.
BA Activities
The BA activities are joint projects by Japan and the EU for
conducting supporting research for ITER and research anddevelopment (R&D) for a DEMO reactor, which is the next
step of ITER, aiming for early realization of fusion energy. TheBA agreement came into force in June 2007, and the JAEA wasdesignated as the implementing agency of the BA activities inJapan.
The BA activities consist of three projects: projects in theInternational Fusion Energy Research Center (IFERC), theengineering validation and engineering design activities of theInternational Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility/Engineering
Validation and Engineering Design Activities (IFMIF/EVEDA),
and the Satellite Tokamak Program (STP). Topics 4-3 and 4-4
describe the results achieved in the R&D activities toward aDEMO reactor in the IFERC. Topics 4-5 and 4-6 describe theresults obtained by IFMIF/EVEDA. In the STP, the constructionof JT-60SA has progressed well (Topic 4-7). Topics 4-8 and 4-9
are also results contributing to JT-60SA.
Fusion Plasma Research
The analysis of the JT-60 experimental data was promoted,
and inter-machine experiments were conducted for the purposeof achieving high economic efficiency of the fusion reactor
by attaining a high plasma pressure. Topic 4-10 is a resultthat clarifies the mechanism of the formation of high plasmapressure.
Fusion Frontier Research
Various R&D activities are executed at the BA site in Rokkasho,aiming at the construction of a technological basis for a DEMO
reactor. Topic 4-11 describes theoretical simulation research thatuses the high-performance computer at IFERC; the result can
provide a basis for controlling the plasma in a DEMO reactor.
JAEA R&D Review 201349