Fusion Energy Sciences
Overview

James W. Van Dam
Acting Associate Director
Office of ScienceFusion Energy Sciences
FESAC Meeting
February 1‐2, 2018
Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse – 31 Jan 2018

Outgoing FESAC members: Thank you

Arati Dasgupta

John Foster

Retiring Member

2

Chris Hegna

Institution

Valerie Izzo

Linda Sugiyama

On FESAC Since

Arati Dasgupta

NRL2014

John Foster

U. Michigan

2013

Chris Hegna

U. Wisconsin‐Madison

2014

Valerie Izzo

UCSD2014

Linda Sugiyama

MIT2013Sincere thanks to all of them for their service

New FESAC members

Sigrid Close

Diane Demers

New Member3Paul TerryInstitution

Mitchell Walker

Anne WhiteEx officio Members

Sigrid Close

Stanford U.

John Cary (APS‐DPP)

Diane Demers

Xantho Technologies

Paul Terry

U. Wisconsin‐Madison

Arnold Lumsdaine (ANS‐FED)

Mitchell Walker

Georgia Tech

Anne White

MITJohn Verboncoeur (IEEE‐
Nuclear & PlasmaScience)1. Budget Update4

FY 2018 Presidential budget request wassubmitted to Congress on March 16, 2017
“This budget, therefore, includes$639 billion for the Department ofDefense—a $52 billion dollar increase
from the 2017 annualized continuing
resolution level. This increase will beoffset by targeted reductionselsewhere.” [page 2]
DOE proposed budget is $28B (whichis ‐$1.7B, ‐6%)
SC proposed budget is $4.47B (whichis ‐$0.9B, ‐17%)
FES proposed budget is $310M(which is ‐$70M, ‐18%)
5https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/budget/fy2018/budget.pdf

Office of Science FY 2018 President’s Request

6

Current FY 2018/2019 budget status• DOE has been operating under Continuing Resolutions– Until December 8, 2017; until January 19, 2018; and now untilFebruary 8• Limited funding actions during the CRs:– Grants and cooperative agreements are being processed following
a priority order based on the starting date of their FY 2018 budget
periods– Labs and large cooperative agreements are being funded
incrementally– Under the CR, ITER is being funded incrementally• Submission of the President’s FY 2019 budget request toCongress is now scheduled for February 127

Looking ahead to FY 2020 budget• During FY 2016 and again in FY 2017, FES held
individual Budget Planning Meetings with lab,
university, and major facility research groups,plus several community organizations– In response to COV suggestion to broaden the BPMs
– Useful information for planning the next budgets– Last year, surveyed participants for comments• Plan to hold such meetings again this year, toprepare for FY 2020 budget request– Guidance letter(s) will be forthcoming
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2. Programmatic Updates & Highlights

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DIII‐D program and facility enhancements toaddress key scientific issues for fusion energy

DIII‐D in FY 2018 will run 18 weeks, then go into Long Torus Openingfor facility enhancements

Frontier science campaign on DIII‐D•In FY 2017, FES supported a new initiative to carryout experiments on DIII‐D focusing on frontier
plasma science, with input solicited from theuniversity community to identify experiments notdirectly related to fusion energy issues•Four experiments were performed:– Interaction of Alfvén/whistler fluctuations andrunaway electrons– Self‐consistent chaos in magnetic field dynamics– Self‐organization of kink‐unstable flux ropes; and– Impact of magnetic perturbations on turbulence11•

The initiative was very successful and resulted in apost‐deadline invited paper at the 2017 APS‐DPP
meeting•

Plans are underway to continue this initiative in
FY 2018, contingent upon budget authority

Whistler frequency bands showingintermittency from sawtooth and whistler
scattering

Predator‐prey limit cycles between
whistler wave amplitude and electron
cyclotron emission – related toscattering of runaways

NSTX‐U status•

Research operation of NSTX‐U:– Plasma operations commenced after the completionof the NSTX Upgrade project.
– However, after ten weeks of experimental operation,a series of hardware failures rendered the machine
inoperable, stopping operations prematurely in2016.

•In response, SC directed PPPL to:– Conduct an independent investigation of all policy
and procedural causes of the NSTX‐U project
difficulties– Identify all design, construction, and operational
deficiencies with the NSTX‐U facility.

•These activities led to the development by
PPPL of a corrective action plan andproposed recovery activities to address thenecessary repairs and engineering issues for
NSTX‐U– During FY 2017, 12 Design Verification andValidation Reviews, Extent of Condition Review,
Extent of Cause Review, etc., were carried out– An Integrated Corrective Action Plan was developed

Office of Science review of NSTX‐U/PPPL• SC Office of Project Assessment has been
charged to conduct a review assessment of:
1. Science mission need for ST/NSTX‐U
2. Cost/schedule/scope
3. Laboratory capabilities• This assessment will be performed in twophases:– Feb 6‐8– March 14‐1613

New SciDAC portfolio addresses priorities
identified in community workshops
 FES SciDAC portfolio was recompeted in FY 2017
o FES and ASCR jointly invested $24M in FY
2017 to support seven multi‐institutional
and interdisciplinary SciDAC partnershipso An eighth project is being supported by FES,
starting in FY 2018o 11 universities, 8 DOE national laboratories,
and 5 private industry institutions (includingsmall businesses) in 13 states are involved

27‐petaflop Titan @ OLCF

 The research activities of the eight partnerships
will be coordinated to accelerate progress
toward Whole‐Device Modeling The new portfolio strengthens the U.S. domestic
fusion program, advances U.S. world‐leadershipand competitiveness in fusion simulations, andaddresses research opportunities identified inrecent community workshops

2015 community workshops on Integrated
Simulations for Magnetic Fusion Energy
Sciences and Transients in Tokamak Plasmas

Fusion presence in Exascale activities
••••

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The upcoming Exascale era will enable transformativeadvances in predictive power for fusion systems,
based on fundamental science and high-performancecomputingCommunity studies identified priorities and challenges
Two fusion-relevant multi-institutional efforts are partof the DOE Exascale Computing Project (ECP)
University participation is through subcontracts with
the DOE Labs

High-Fidelity Whole-Device Modeling ofMagnetically Confined Fusion Plasma(led by PPPL)

Molecular Dynamics at the Exascale: Spanning theAccuracy, Length and Time Scales for Critical
Problems in Materials Science(led by LANL; addresses needs of BES, FES, and NE)

Quantum Information Science (QIS)• QIS—which includes quantum science andinstrumentation for next‐generation
computing, information, and other fields—has
been identified as an important cross‐cutting
topic with potential impact across all SC
program offices• A “Dear Colleague Letter” was issued recently
by SC, encouraging the submission ofinnovative research ideas in QIS• In 2018, FES will be exploring its role in QIS,
joining the other SC programs• An FES Roundtable meeting is planned:• To identify fundamental science
supported by FES that could advance QIS
development• Explore QIS applications that could have atransformative impact on FES mission
areas, including fusion and discovery
plasma science16

https://science.energy.gov/

Development of new plasma‐materialinteractions experimental capability
Schematic of Proto‐MPEX Linear Plasma Source Experiment

RF Helicon Plasma Source
EBW Launcher

ICH Antenna

IR camera showing power
distribution on target• The PMI workshop report pointed to the need for an experimental facility capable of simulating
steady‐state, divertor‐like plasmas for reactor‐relevant PMI, divertor plasma physics, and fusionmaterials science studies• ORNL and partner institutions continue high‐priority research and development to finalize scientificproof‐of‐principle for an innovative, high‐intensity linear plasma source capable of producing theextreme plasma parameters required for PMI research relevant to future fusion devices
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International collaborative researchMulti‐disciplinary teams of U.S. scientists and students are leveraging
U.S. capabilities to lead research overseas on unique facilities
Facility

Research Area

Institutions
K‐STAREAST
KSTAR

Control of long pulse
tokamak scenarios

GA, Lehigh, LLNL, MIT, ORNL,PPPL, UCLA, & U Texas‐Austin

EAST

Control of plasma‐material interactions

PPPL, JHU, LANL, MIT, ORNL,U Tennessee, & UIUC

KSTAR

Disruption physics

Columbia, MIT, PPPL

W7‐X

3D, steady‐state
stellarators

PPPL, ORNL, Auburn, LANL,MIT, Wisconsin, Xantho Tech.

JT‐60SA

Energetic ion physics

GA, UC‐Irvine

JET, AUG
TCV

Research in support ofburning plasma physics

ORNL, PPPL, GA, MIT, UCSD,Wisconsin, U Texas‐Austin

WEST

Burning plasma
technology testbed

ORNL, MIT18JET

K‐STARAUG

EASTTCV

JT‐60SA

WEST

W7‐X

U.S. remote control rooms enhance utilization ofinternational & domestic research facilities
MiT• U.S. teams at GA completed a week ofexperiments in FY 2017 during EAST third shift
and can lead experiments at KSTAR

PPPL • PPPL and collaborators can lead experiments onGA

KSTAR & connect to W7‐X, DIII‐D• Remote control room at MiT is being designed,with assembly to commence in Spring FY 2018

K‐STAR

W7‐XEASTA new intermediate‐scale facility was awarded
by FES for the first time in nearly two decades

The DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences has awarded $12.5 million
FY17 funds over five years to the University of Wisconsin–Madison todevelop an intermediate‐scale, integrated, collaborative plasma
science user facility that will expand the frontiers of plasma
astrophysics. Two existing experiments, the Big Red Plasma Ball andthe Madison Symmetric Torus, are combined into the new Wisconsin
Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPL). The new project will join theexpertise of more than two dozen UW–Madison scientists andtechnicians with outside plasma scientists, who will gain access to the20 facility and establish new collaboration.

“Several areas of basic
plasma science would benefit
from new intermediate‐scalefacilities.”(2010 DecadalStudy)“There is a need for creationand exploration of new
regimes in the laboratory.”(2016 PSF Report)

HEDLP at MEC instrument at LCLSThe Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC)
instrument is the world leader for its classof high energy density science

The MEC instrument is host to a wide range of innovative studiesObservation of “diamond rain”
that forms in the interior ofIcy Giant Planets
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Using the LCLS x‐ray free electron laser, scientists
mapped—for the first time—the metastable silica
high‐pressure phase behavior under shock wave
compression and release2020 Plasma Decadal Survey• Charge and Statement of Task are
finalized– Objective: conduct a study of thepast progress and future promiseof plasma science and technology
and provide recommendations tobalance the objectives of the field
in a sustainable and healthymanner over the long term

• Multiple sponsors– DOE: FES, HEP, NNSA, ARPA‐E– NSF– DOD: AFOSR, ONR
2010 Plasma Decadal Survey(Chair: Steve Cowley)22• Decadal Survey will be performed
over 24 months

2018 IAEA Fusion Energy Conference• 27th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference will beheld Oct 22‐27, 2018, in Ahmedabad, India• The 17‐member U.S. Paper Selection
Committee met in Germantown, January 30‐
31, to assess and prioritize the submissions• The International Programme Committee
will meet April 23‐27 at the IAEA HQ inVienna, to finalize the conference program

Number of Submissions

US Submission Trends*2380706050403020
100OVEXPCC
TH
ICC
IFE2010

2012

2014

FEC Year

2016

2018

FIP, FNS, MPTSEE

3. ITER Updates

24

ITER Organization announced 50% completion
to First Plasma in December 2017

Examples of U.S. hardware for ITER:First Plasma Sub‐Project deliveries 30% complete

Piping fabrication in the U.S. for the Tokamak
Cooling Water System at Schulz Xtruded
Products in Robinsonville, MS

U.S. Toroidal
Field Conductor
fabrication
completed andshipped to EU
winding facility
in 2017

Central Solenoid Module 1 after
completing heat treatment atGeneral Atomics Poway, CA facility

ComU.S. completed Central Solenoid Assembly
Structure

U.S.
completeddelivery ofSteadyStateElectrical
Network tothe ITER sitein 201726

Fabrication of central solenoid modules
is progressing

Module #7: 3/7 conductor spools received
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Progress of U.S. ITER project
Percent Complete by Phase
Subproject 1(ETC in $M)

80% of fabrication awards for U.S. ITER projectremain in the U.S.
• 600+ contracts to U.S. industry, universities,
and national laboratories in 44 states• 500+ direct jobs, 1100+ indirect jobs per year

55%
51%

Overall SP-1 ($987.9)

100%
100%

R&D ($0.3)

65%

Design ($240.3)

59%91%
88%

Prep for Fabrication($25.0)36%

Fabrication ($390.7)

Total = $957M (since 2007)30%

Deliveries

0%
Based on early finish schedule
Data: December 2017

Data as of September 30, 2017

U.S. ITER Subproject‐1 (First Plasma) is 50% done

Planned

30%
30%
20%

Complete

40%

60%

80%

100%

Progress on pellet injection
for ITER disruption mitigation•

Pellet Injection for ITER
– Pellet injection is now primary disruption
mitigation method for ITER

PI cask andflight tubes– IO held preliminary design review ofpellet injection flight tubes and cask

• Disruption Mitigation for ITER
– JET SPI commissioning is on target tocomplete in May 2018. Disruption
mitigation experiments utilizing JET‐SPI
are scheduled June‐September 2018.
– An ITER Disruption Mitigation Task Forcewas established by the ITER Organization
SPI on JET is a large collaborative effort
involving JET/EUROfusion, ORNL,USIPO, ITER Org, EC, and US DOE
2929

DM Pellet
Injector andGuide Tube
New SPI platform
SPI control cables

National Academy burning plasma interim
report was issued on December 21, 2017
The interim report notes that:••••Burning plasma research is essential
to the development of magnetic
fusion energy
The U.S. has contributed leading
advances in burning plasma science
ITER is the only existing project tocreate burning plasma at reactor scale
The U.S. should develop a national
strategic plan leading to a fusion
demonstration device

Full report is expected by the end of2018

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Talk later in this meeting by M. Mauel andM. Shochet (co‐leads of the NAS committee)

Community workshops for NAS BP input• Two workshops so far:
– Madison, WI workshop (June 2017)– Austin, TX workshop (December 2017)• Thanks to:– Organizing committee (co‐leads D. Maurer, M. Wade, J. Menard)– Also to the plenary speakers, discussion session leaders, andsummary speakers– All who submitted white papers and other input (extensive)• Discussion ongoing about further community activities– H. Neilson has replaced J. Menard
Talk later in this meeting by M. Wade31

FESAC subcommittee on Transformative
Enabling Capabilities toward Fusion Energy• Report to be received anddiscussed by FESAC at thismeeting• Much appreciation to allthe members of thesubcommittee (and to theco‐chairs: Rajesh Maingi
and Arnie Lumsdaine)

Talk later in this meeting by
R. Maingi and A. Lumsdaine32

Committee of Visitors charge to FESAC•

Every program element of SC is to be reviewed by a COV at least once
every three years– https://science.energy.gov/~/media/sc‐2/pdf/presentations/guidance_for_doe_sc_cov_reviews_v1.pdf•CHARGE: The panel should evaluate:– The efficiency and quality of the processes used by FES to solicit, review,recommend, monitor, and document awards and declinations for universities,national laboratories, and industry– The breadth, depth, and quality of the resulting program portfolio, and theprogram’s national and international standing– FES’s management of its portfolio of line item construction and Major Items ofEquipment projects, including the U.S. Contributions to ITER project•The evaluation should:– Review FES program for FYs 2014‐2017– Also comment on FES’s progress in addressing action items from the previous
COV review.
– Focus on high‐level, major recommendations (and not too many!)

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Tomorrow FESAC will discuss this4. People

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DOE leadership updates
Mr. Dan Brouillette was sworn in as the Deputy
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy on
August 7, 2017

Mr. Paul Dabbar was sworn in as Undersecretary for
Science on November 7, 2017

Dr. J. Stephen Binkley continues as the Deputy
Director for Science Programs, Office of ScienceFES personnel changes
S. Eckstrand•••

Ed Synakowski, FES Associate
Director since 2009, left federal
service in August 2017 to join theUniversity of Wyoming as the VP for
Research & Economic Development
Jim Van Dam is the Acting Associate
Director for FESJohn Mandrekas is the Acting FES
Research Division Director

Other transitions:

Sean Finnegan left FES
to join NNSA

Long‐time FES program managers Steve Eckstrand,
Al Opdenaker, and Francis Thio retired

D. Clark

J. King2017 Early Career Research Awards

Dr. Jason Trelewicz
Stony Brook Univ.
Plasma‐facing materials
applications

Dr. David Green (ORNL)
Simulation of magneticallyconfined fusion plasmas
37

Dr. Julia Mikhailova
Princeton University
Attosecond light‐field controlof high‐density plasmas

Dr. Juan Trelles
U. Massachusetts‐Lowell
Plasmas in contact with liquids

Dr. Frederico Fiuza (SLAC)Particle acceleration inHED plasmas

Dr. Adam Sefkow (U. Rochester)Hybrid fluid‐kinetic modeling
efforts for HEDP and ICF ScienceAmong 23 university Early Career awardees, so far
12 who were up for tenure have achieved it

Dr. Stanislav Boldyrev
Tenured Prof., UW
ECA 2010

Dr. Luisa Chiesa
Tenured Assoc. Prof.
Tufts University
ECA 2010

Dr. Christoph Niemann
Tenured Assoc. Prof., UCLAECA 2011

Dr. Sigrid Close
Tenured Assoc. Prof.
Stanford U.
38
ECA 2013

Dr. Lorenzo Mangolini
Tenured Assoc. Prof.
UC‐Riverside
ECA 2015

Dr. Jean Paul Allain
Tenured Prof.
Univ. Illinois
ECA 2010

Dr. Anne White
Tenured Assoc. Prof., MIT
ECA 2011

Dr. Oliver Schmitz
Tenured Assoc. Prof.
UW‐Madison
ECA 2015

Dr. Tobin Munsat
Tenured Assoc. Prof.
Univ. Colorado
ECA 2010

Dr. Kai Germaschewski
Tenured Assoc. Prof., UNH
ECA 2011

Dr. Peter Bruggeman
Tenured Assoc. Prof.
U. Minnesota
ECA 2016

Dr. Devesh Ranjan
Tenured Assoc. Prof.
Georgia Tech
ECA 2016

DOE celebrated its 40th anniversary

N.J. Fisch, PRL 41(13), 873(1978)
Confining a tokamak
plasma with rf‐driven
currents
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G.B. Andresen et al.,Nature 468, 673 (2010)Trapped antihydrogen

R.J. Groebner et al., PRL 64,3015 (1990)
Role of edge electric fieldand poloidal rotation in theL‐H transition

J.D. Strachan et al.,PRL 72, 3526 (1994)
Fusion power
production from TFTR
plasmas fueled with
deuterium and tritium

F.M. Levinton et al.,PRL 63, 2060 (1989)
Magnetic field pitch‐angle
measurements in the PBX‐
M tokamak using themotional Stark effectPlease send scientific highlights to us•

SC home page has:
– Science Highlights(carousel)– Featured Articles– Science Headlines– UniversityResearch•

40SC ScienceHighlights arelinked to the FES
Highlights webpage

Thanks to G. Navratil for his talk earlier in this meeting