The National Academies ofSCIENCES· ENGINEERING· MEDICINEA STRATEGIC PLAN FOR U.S. BURNING PLASMA RESEARCH
Statement of Task
A committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will be formed to study
the state and potential of magnetic confinement-based fusion research in the United States and provide
guidance on a long-term strategy for the field. The study will focus on research that supports
understanding the magnetically confined burning plasma state but will take a broad view beyond plasma
confinement science, and as such consider capabilities such as simulation and materials. Specifically, thecommittee will prepare an interim report that will:
I. Describe and assess the current status ofU.S. research that supports burning plasma science,
including current and planned participation in international activities, and describe international
research activities broadly.
2. Assess the importance of U.S. burning plasma research to the development affusion energy as
well as to plasma science and other science and engineering disciplines.
The committee will also prepare a final report, building on the interim report, which will:
1. Consider the scientific and engineering challenges and opportunities associated with advancing
magnetic confinement fusion as an energy source, including the scientific and technicaldevelopments since the 2004 NAS study on burning plasma research.
2. In two separate scenarios in which, after 2018, (1) the United States is a partner in ITER, and (2)the United States is not a partner in ITER: provide guidance on a long-term strategic plan
(covering the next several decades) for a national program of burning plasma science andtechnology research which includes supporting capabilities and which may include participation
in international activities, given the U.S. strategic interest in realizing economical fusion energy
in the long term.
In doing the above, the committee will consider the priorities for the next ten years developed by thecommunity and PES that were recently reported to Congress. The committee will also consider thecurrent level of participation by U.S. scientists in international activities as well as what role international
collaboration should play over the next 20 years. The committee will also consider the health of thedomestic fusion research sectors (universities, national laboratories, and industry). Elements of any
strategic plan for U.S. burning plasma research should ensure that the United States maintains aleadership role in this field. The committee may assume that economical fusion energy within the next
several decades is a U.S. strategic interest. The committee may take into account how unanticipated
events or innovations may necessitate mid-course re-directions. The committee will use the prior work of
the Academies as well as that of FE SAC and the domestic and foreign communities in its deliberations.
The committee is not to compare fusion as an energy source against other current or potential energy
sources. The committee will consider the budget implications of its guidance but will not makerecommendations about the budget for burning plasma research itself. The committee will only consider
magnetically confined burning plasma research as within its purview. The committee may makerecommendations or offer comments on organizational structure and program balance, withaccompanying supporting discussion of the evidentiary bases, as appropriate.