臨界プラズマ試験装置JT-60; その技術史上の意義

Break-even plasma test facilities JT-60; The Significance in the history of technology development

栗原 研一

Kurihara, Kenichi

トカマク型臨界プラズマ試験装置JT-60は大規模な電気システムであり、大容量の電動発電機,大電流サイリスタ変換器,大出力マイクロ波管などの電気技術開発との相互発展のもとに建設及び実験運転され、臨界条件を達成するとともに持続的な原子核反応を高効率で発生できることを実証し、国際熱核融合実験炉ITERの建設へと道を拓いた。このJT-60について技術史における位置づけを試みる。

Breakeven plasma test facilities JT-60, as a large scale electrical device, has been developed in accordance with great technological advances of electrical applications such as power electronics, large energy storage with a motor generator, high power microwaves, high energy neutral beam, etc. JT-60 demonstrated efficient and continuous nuclear fusion reactions as well as a break-even plasma in a tokamak, and opened up the prospect of a fusion power plant in the future. In this article, the significance of JT-60 is considered from the viewpoint of the history of technology development in electrical engineering.