Nuclear fusion reactor

Tobita, Kenji

Recent development of fusion reactor technology in Japan is summarized. ITER is a fusion experimental reactor that will play a central role in fusion reactor development in near future. Plasma technology has been focused on exploitation of the ITER operation basis. Long sustainment of high normalized beta discharges performed in JT-60U is a good example of research contributing to ITER. As to fusion engineering, there was remarkable progress in the manufacturing methods of superconducting magnets, and in a high (1 MW), efficient (55%) and long (800 seconds) power generation of 170 GHz radio-frequency waves, which would also contribute to the construction of ITER. The article contains an overview of the Broader Approach program which has been carried out in parallel with the ITER project, as well.