Progress of JT-60SA project towards an integrated research for ITER and DEMO

Kamada, Yutaka; Ishida, Shinichi; Barabaschi, P.*; JT-60SA Team

The JT-60SA project contributes to early realization of fusion energy by supporting exploitation of ITER and research towards DEMO. An integrated design and construction in Japan and Europe has been progressed intensively, and the project foresees its first plasma in 2016. The JT-60SA device is capable of confining break-even-equivalent class high-temperature plasmas lasting for a duration longer than the timescales characterizing the key plasma processes, such as current diffusion and particle recycling, with superconducting toroidal and poloidal field coils. JT-60SA demonstrates the highly integrated plasma performances required for DEMO such as full non-inductive steady-state operation with high plasma beta exceeding the no-wall ideal stability limits, and establishes ITER-relevant high density plasma regimes. An integration of achievements in JT-60SA high-beta steady-state plasmas and ITER burning plasmas will make DEMO designs more realistic and attractive.