FUSION Quarterly news & views on the progress in fusion research

JET TAKES OFF! EUROPE’S LARGEST FUSION EXPERIMENT RESTARTED

Last moduLe of WendeLstein 7-X mounted

Keeping the in pLace With microWaves

outstanding scientists honoured

3 | 2011 EUROPEAN FUSION DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FUSION IN EUROPE | Contents |

Contents FUSION IN EUROPE № 3 | 2011

Moving Forward EFDA 3 A year of important achievement 4 Modelling the missing links 10 5 EFDA ITER Physics Work Programme 2012/2013 Associates Fusion software used for wind turbines 6 Last Module of Wendelstein 7-X mounted 8 Keeping the plasma in place with Microwaves 9 Fast action thanks to expertise 10 Fusion software used for wind turbines

JETInsight 11 The 12 JET takes off! 13 The pillar of JET retires 15 The father of JET and ITER commemorated 13 17 JET guestbook The pillar of JET retires Community People 18 Outstanding scientists honoured 19 New Heads of Research Unit appointed In dialogue 20 Camp of brilliant brains 21 Get your hands on, run experiments, try things out 21 Home-made

Miscellaneous 20 22 Newsflash Camp of brilliant brains

Title pictures: EFDA, IdeenExpo GmbH

EFDA Close Support Unit – Garching © Francesco Romanelli (EFDA Leader) 2011. Imprint Boltzmannstr. 2 This newsletter or parts of it may not be reproduced without permission. Text, pictures and layout, ex- 85748 Garching / Munich cept where noted, courtesy of the EFDA Parties. FUSION IN EUROPE Germany The EFDA Parties are the European Commission phone: +49-89-3299-4263 and the Associates of the European Fusion Pro - ISSN 1818-5355 fax: +49-89-3299-4197 gramme which is co-ordinated and managed by the Commission. Neither the Commission, the e-mail: [email protected] Associates nor anyone acting on their behalf is re- For more information see the website: editors: Petra Nieckchen, Christine Rüth sponsible for any damage resulting from the use www.efda.org Subscribe at [email protected] of information contained in this publication.

2 | Moving Forward | EFDA | a year of IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS

in october, the efDa steering committee confirmed francesco romanelli as efDa leader until the end of 2013. he looks back at a year full of challenges and yet important milestones reached.

The ITER Physics area is in a period of substantial re- newal. A review of the Integrated Modelling activities under EFDA recommended to further strength - en it by including more physics development work and model validation on experimental devices, building on Dear reader the ITM Task Force experience. The 2012/13 activities in the various topical areas will be implemented through the year 2011 has seen a number of important achieve- specific projects that have been defined through the col- ments in the EFDA programme. The JET Enhancement lective effort of the Topical Group Chairs and Task Force Programme 2 shutdown and restart were successfully Leaders. completed. Now the exploitation of the ITER-Like-Wall has begun. The Power Plant Physics and Technology In its review of the strategic orientation of the fusion (PPP&T) Department was set up and the most urgent programme the Independent Panel expressed its strong activities were launched. A new, more goal oriented support to the development of fusion as an energy way of implementation of the coordinated activities in source. It also recommended a profound restructuring the ITER Physics Department is being put in place. I of the fusion related work in Europe to ensure the suc- would like to take this occasion to thank all those who cess of ITER and progress towards the goal of electricity have devoted their effort to the success of these activi- production in the 2050 time frame. ties. I believe that the organisation of the fusion programme At the end of 2010 an Independent Panel was set up in Horizon 2020 should ensure a long term perspec- by the European Commission to assess the potential tive of activities, adequate resources on the program- JET contributions to ITER and the Strategic Orientation matic priorities with light implementation procedures of the Fusion Programme. The Panel recognises JET as and the preservation of the identity of each Associate vital for the success of ITER and strongly recommends around its points of excellence. the full exploitation of the ITER-Like-Wall and its op- eration with . The perspective of extended col- EFDA has already started to move in this di rec - laborations with the other international partners, rec- tion. With the support of the Associates we should use ommended by the Panel, will be an important point in the period 2012/13 as an opportunity to make the nec- agenda for 2012. essary adaptations to the challenges of the ITER era while preserving those aspects that ensured the strength The PPP&T Department was set up in record time and of the programme. it starts to implement the 2012 Work Programme. The goal is to define the R&D priorities for the next Eu - I take this opportunity to give you my best wishes of a ropean research framework programme, Horizon 2020, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. by the end of 2013. The response of the EFDA Associates has been enthusiastic and I hope that the new Im - plementing Agreement will start soon. The Independent Panel review has made a number of recommendations in this area, some of which are already built in the medium term plan of EFDA. FRANCESCO ROMANELLI

3 FUSION in europe | Moving Forward | EFDA | Modelling the missing links the application of the first integrated simulation tools to fusion machines marks a milestone for the efDa integrated tokamak Modelling task force. at its annual meeting in garching, the task force introduced the prototype tools to a wider community of modellers.

ur tools are like LEGO® bricks. They plug Force Leader Gloria Falchetto, “While participants adapt into each other and allow a modeller to build their modules to the ITM infrastructure and integrate “Oa physics simulation according to his or her them into the ETS, they share experiences and many is- needs”. Denis Kalupin, EFDA Responsible Officer for the sues are solved much more quickly this way.“ The ETS Integrated Tokamak Modelling (ITM) Task Force, sums has been released internally to ITM members for verifi- up what his work is all about. ITM cation and optimisa- develops a set of generic modelling “The ITM Task Force has progressed substantially tion. A first public ver- tools, which simulate the behaviour in the last seven years. In some areas it has pro- sion will be out next of plasmas in any fusion machine year. A subroutine of duced tools that are used today by the EFDA or for any specific problem. “Some the ETS, the equilib- modules run very fast for quick and Associates. Now it is time to take stock of this ex- rium reconstruction rough simulations and others zoom perience in order to strengthen the competitiveness and stability simulation into details in space or time. For of European modellers towards ITER through a chain is already avail- each problem, scientists would nor- more efficient organisation of these activities.” able for general use. mally have to adapt different nu- The chain allows the merical codes and couple them to- EFDA-LEADER FRANCESCO ROMANELLI setup of a gether by designing an individual configuration and the interface. Within the ITM environment this switch be- determination of the . It has produced tween fast, simple solutions and slower, more sophisti- first physics results for ASDEX Upgrade and ITER dis- cated ones is extremely easy.” charges. The equilibrium reconstruction module is al- ready in use at Tore Supra and JET. First physics results. Plasma modellers from all over Europe contribute to the development and valida- Automated protection for ITER. The meeting tion of the ITM plasma simulator. Its major component also addressed the coupling of modules describing the is the European Transport Solver (ETS), which will allow edge and core of the plasma, synergetic effects between scientists to simulate transport processes in a tokamak the various heating sources and issues regarding the plasma within a unique modular package. The Task plasma control. Lively discussion surrounded the stan- Force organises regular “code camps”, where developers dardisation of interfaces in order to include diagnostic meet for two weeks of concentrated work. “Each code signals for the plasma control systems into the plasma camp brings us a big step further” explains ITM Task simulator. This will develop the ETS towards one of the ultimate needs of ITER, which is a transport simulator linked to the plant control system. Wayne Houl - berg, Head of the ITER Integrated Modelling Expert Group, explains: “We are pushing ITER to the limits, where we get maximum perform- ance and still operate safely. The sim- ulation will have to tell us automati- cally whether the control systems can maintain the parameters needed for the planned plasma pulse.”

contact: Gloria Falchetto, [email protected]

4 | Moving Forward | EFDA |

EFDA ITER Physics Work Programme 2012/2013

he ITER Physics second general planning meeting cross-topic issues covered by the involved EFDA was held in Garching on October 27 and 28 to Topical Groups and Task Forces. EFDA will primarily Trevisit the details of the EFDA Physics Pro - support projects which significantly benefit from co- gramme until 2013. More than 60 participants – EFDA ordination through EFDA and projects that can only Re spon sible Officers, the Leaderships of the involved be carried out efficiently through the combined efforts EFDA Task Forces and Topical Groups as well as mem- of several Associates. bers of the Associates – discussed the deliverables ex- The programme also includes the development, in- pected from the Associates. Representatives from ITER stallation or upgrade of diagnostics which will improve and attended the meeting to confirm the capability of European machines. This will, for in- the relevance of the Physics Programme to ITER’s stance mean a significant advance in the field of un- needs. derstanding the nature of the electron heat transport. The main novelty of the 2012/2013 Work Pro - A number of installations are planned for different ma- gramme in the ITER Physics area is a shift from being chines, enabling scientists to investigate an area where oriented around topics (MHD, Transport, Plasma-Wall little experimental knowledge is available. Interation, Heating and Fuelling, Dia gnostics) to being structured in Projects that address the most urgent contact: R&D needs of ITER. The programme will be conducted Duarte Borba and Boris Weyssow, EFDA within eleven research areas, each of which addresses [email protected]

The 2012/2013 Work Programme Involved EFDA Topical Prediction of Material Migration and Mixed Material Formation Groups and Task Forces Shaping and Controlling Performance Limiting Instabilities Plasma Stability and Control Fuel Retention and Removal Transport Plasma Rotation Electron Heat Transport and Multi-Scale Physics Diagnostic Pedestal Instabilities (ELMs), Mitigation and Heat loads Heat & Current Drive Disruptions, Prediction, Avoidance, Mitigation and Consequences and Fuel Physics of the Pedestal and H-mode Plasma Wall Interaction Fast Particles Particle Transport, Fuelling and Inner Fuel Cycle Modelling Operation with Metallic Plasma-Facing Components, including High Power ICRH

5 FUSION in europe | Moving Forward | Associates |

Last module of Wendelstein 7-X mounted

Happy faces in Greifswald after a nerve-wracking week, But, less than one week later, on November 16th, the which began on 10 November, the day the last magnet module was finally put in place. module of Wendelstein 7-X was to be assembled. A At the end of December the upper shell of the crane was to insert the 100 ton segment together with a outer vessel will be mounted onto this module. Before 15 ton outer shell into the vessel ring. TV crews had that, the five modules will be joined together: the cryo set-up their cameras and journalists had their notepads pipes, the bus and instrumentation systems will be con- ready, and then the remote control of the crane failed. nected, the central rings will be bolted, and the plasma

6 | Moving Forward | Associates |

and outer vessels will be welded. It all sounds easier project and to our various collaborators and industrial than it actually is: the challenge throughout the assembly partners. We now have in front of us a number of de- of W 7-X has always been mounting multi-ton compo- manding work packages, but we are confident that the nents with sub millimetre precision. completion date mid 2014 can be kept.” “The completion of the torus is a very important Thomas Klinger, Scientific Director of the Wendelstein milestone for Wendelstein 7-X. It took only three hours 7-X project to conduct the challenging lifting process of the last com- pleted magnet module onto the machine base. We are more information: proud of our assembly team, which has done a marvellous https://www.ipp.mpg.de/ippcms/eng/pr/forschung/w7x/index.html job. This success belongs to the entire Wendel stein 7-X (Picture: IPP, Tino Schulz)

7 FUSION in europe | Moving Forward | Associates |

Keeping the PLASMA in place with MICROWAVES ist and ipp have developed a new method for controlling the plasma position and have successfully tested it on asDeX upgrade. efDa supported the work as one of its high priority tasks.

The new solution "After a few years of intense work, I could not imagine uses dedicated al- a better reward for the team and for myself than the gorithms and esti- eeping the plasma in feeling of complete achievement that followed those mations of the place is crucial for boundary density tense few seconds when plasma position control Kprotecting the reactor to determine the wall of a fusion device. was successfully handed to reflectometry for the first position of the Today, real-time feed back time ever. “ plasma boundary systems use magnetic mea- JORGE SANTOS, PROJECT PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, IST in real time. IST surements to determine and experts conducted control the plasma position. However, the fast neutrons a feasibility study of the method for IPP’s tokamak AS- and radiation emitted by -tritium (D-T) plas- DEX Upgrade and subsequently designed and assembled mas may affect the magnetic sensors. The measurements the reflectometry system and the real time data process- are likely to develop errors and these would grow with ing solutions. The whole system was then connected to the duration of the plasma pulse. Because ITER and fu- the ASDEX Upgrade control system. ture fusion devices operate D-T plasmas with very long pulses, alternative me- First tests in July showed thods to control the that the outer plasma ra- plasma position need to dius could be determined be developed. with the required accuracy “We were only given two shots to test the sys- of one centimetre and the Reflecting microwaves tem. And this was our only chance, as the plasma position was suc- off the plasma is a well- campaign ended that month. But then it cessfully controlled. IST proven technique for de- and IPP are now optimis- worked right away and the session leader termining the radial dis- ing the algorithm. Further tribution of the plasma gave us two more shots because he could not upgrades under consider- density. How ever, its ap- believe what he saw in the data. “ ation include a second mi- plication for measuring MANFRED ZILKER, IPP crowave reflectometer lo- the plasma position cated opposite to the without the issues asso- present one, to simultane- ciated with magnetic diagnostics has been started only ously control the inner and recently. Portuguese scientists from IST and German outer plasma radius. scientists from IPP have a long standing collaboration in the area of microwave diagnostics. Within the frame- work of an EFDA priority support task, they now devel- contact: oped a method to control the plasma position using mi- , IPP, [email protected] crowave reflectometry. Maria Manso, IST, [email protected]

8 | Moving Forward | Associates | Fast action thanks to expertise within only three months the KfKi-rMKi successfully designed and installed a prototype system for Beam emission spectroscopy on the Korean experiment Kstar. now the project has received addi- tional funds to build a fully developed system.

cientists at the Hungarian Associate KFKI-RMKI are experts in Beam Emission Spectroscopy, a Stechnique for investigating plasma turbulence. In 2010, together with the Korean National Fusion Re- search Institute, they received a starting grant to eva- luate the prospects of such a system for the Korean tokamak KSTAR and to develop a conceptual design for it. The project was supported through a fund for joint scientific actions, set up by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Korea Research Council of Funda- mental Science and Technology.

Beam Emission Spectroscopy (BES) measures light emitted from the neutral particle beams which are in- jected into the plasma for heating or diagnostics. Along (Photo: KFKI-RMKI) the way, the particles collide with plasma particles, get excited and emit light. The intensity variations of these was to end in early September and the next one would emissions reflect the local density fluctuations, from not start for another year. Within three months, the which plasma turbulence can be measured. Turbulence team designed, built and installed a trail BES system causes the plasma to lose heat and particles and is there- on KSTAR. Luckily, a test sample of the detector was fore one of the most scrutinised effects in fusion science. available at Admintech Kft and RMKI could design an The challenge for BES diagnostics lies in the very low affordable optical system based on off-the-shelf com- light levels, which require extremely sensitive detectors. ponents.

15 years of experience KFKI-RMKI has been Unusual cabin baggage In July, Project Leader developing BES diagnostics for 15 years and installed Sándor Zoletnik and a design engineer hand-carried such systems on various in Europe. Together the heavy 60 kilogram system to Korea. With the help with its spin-off company Admintech Kft, the Associate of the Korean project leader Yong Un Nam, the system developed a highly sensitive detector. It greatly enhances was installed in the port and connected to the control the capability of BES systems and was installed on computer within one week. Experiments started in the MAST in 2010. A similar detection system is currently first days of August and the system operated throughout being installed on JET. the remaining campaign. First analysis showed that the measurements fitted the model calculations. Because Based on an existing BES code, the team from Budapest RMKI had developed analysis software for previous University of Technology and Economics developed a BES experiments, scientists could immediately begin to simulation model for the KSTAR system. The calcula- use the data to study plasma phenomena. In July 2011 tions of the expected light intensity, spectrum, spatial the project received resources for one more year to resolution and other parameters were discussed in April build a final BES diagnostic for KSTAR. 2011 and the team concluded that the system would offer good measurement possibilities. Timing however, contact: presented a challenge: KSTAR’s experimental campaign Sándor Zoletnik, [email protected]

9 FUSION in europe | Moving Forward | Associates | Fusion software used for wind turbines software framework for real time control systems is being evaluated for use in floating wind turbines. The framework MARTe is a toolbox of qualified software modules for the construction of real time applications Awhich is used at several European fusion devices. Scientists at the Portugese Euratom/IST Association de- veloped it for the JET vertical stabilization system, which keeps the plasma in its vertical position by applying cor- rective magnetic fields in real time. One of MARTe’s strengths is the fact that it easily connects to simulation programs and provides a simple way to validate any systems for which a simulation model is available.

Because of this flexibility, IST’s Centre of Marine Technology and Engineering recognised MARTe as potential so- lution for a real time control system in floating wind turbines. These turbines are being investigated for use in off- shore wind parks where the ocean is too deep to mount devices in the seafloor – as it is the case along much of the Portuguese Atlantic coast. However, floating wind turbines behave like pendulums and the interaction between wind, turbine and waves can cause resonances. To avoid these, control systems must adjust the pitch angle of the rotor blades according to wind speed and wave height in real time. IST has won a three-year research contract to validate and design a real time control system for floating wind turbines based on the MARTe framework. contact: MARTe(Multi-threaded Application Real-Time executor): Horácio Fernandes, IST: [email protected] Floating wind turbines: Nuno Fonseca, IST, [email protected] The floating wind turbine Hywind (Photo: Trude Refsahl / Statoil)

10 | JETInsight | THE JOINT EUROPEAN TORUS, JET Europe’s largest fusion device

The JET vessel in May 2011, featuring the complete ITER-Like Wall (Picture: EFDA)

EFDA provides the work platform to exploit JET in an efficient and focused way. More than 40 Euro - pean fusion laboratories collectively contribute to the JET scientific programme and develop the hardware of the machine further. The tokamak is located at the Science Centre near Oxford in the UK. It is funded by EURATOM, by the Euro - pean Associates, and by UK’s fusion Associate, the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) as host. CCFE operates the JET facilities including carrying out the maintenance and refurbishment work re- quired to realise the given scientific goals.

11 FUSION in europe | JETInsight | JET TAKES OFF! Scientists and engineers start up the “new” JET machine.

Scientists following the first plasma attempt after the 2009-2011 shutdown.

ust before the end of August JET was ready for ope- The second phase of commissioning thoroughly tested ration and so the torus hall was locked up to attempt the updated algorithms used to control the plasma posi- Jfor plasma. Achieving stable plasma operation in the tion and plasma current. Another new feature is an en- past immediately after a long shut down has never com- hancement to the power supplies of the coils, which al- pletely been straight-forward and the operations team lows the plasma to touch the earlier in a pulse was expecting a few attempts might have to be made. than was previously possible. This system is now com- However, to their delight, the first pulse for 22 months missioned and in use. After the installation of a camera ran at the initial attempt, at 18.30 on 24th August. Plasma with partial coverage of the radio frequency antennae, was created and controlled for 15 seconds, reaching a the first additional heating system was brought into op- very respectable current of 1.1 mega amperes. After only eration. The heating power and pulse lengths have been a few days of commissioning by the engineers, the ma- slowly increased, while the camera operators watched chine was handed over to the scientists so that experi- the antennae for unexpected hot spots. The protection ments could begin. The initial phase tested the behaviour system has been successfully commissioned for powers of the new wall in ohmic configuration, in which the of several megawatts. only heating of the plasma comes from the current flow- JET's main additional heating comes from the ing in it. The total ohmic heating power is only about Neutral Beam Injection system, whose power supplies one megawatt and limits the plasma temperature to a and beam sources have been considerably en han - few tens of millions of degrees. That might seem hot by ced. Bringing the system back into operation has taken every-day standards, but for JET it represents a careful a little longer than planned, but beams have been pro- and considered period of operation. duced and conditioned successfully by aiming them at Early experiments studied the migration of a target inside the Neutral Injection Box. The beams from some of the plasma facing tiles and measured the will initially be run carefully in short bursts until the amount of fuel retained in the tiles. Many people are ea- computer models, which predict how the in-vessel com- ger to find out how much the fuel retention has been re- ponents heat up, are verified. Only then will full power duced compared with similar experiments done with the beams be injected. old tiles. Some experimentalists have also been Each of these steps brings the machine closer to pro- studying the spectrum of light emitted by the plasma to ducing new physics that will be relevant for ITER. The learn about the role of impurities from the new tiles. In current routine of interspersing commissioning sessions parallel with operating the machine for ten shifts per with experimental work is expected to continue until week, other staff continued to install more new systems the end of the year. during nights and weekends. The priority was to have Nick Balshaw, CCFE the new camera-based protection system in place, to monitor the wall temperature. follow Jet’s restart: http://tinyurl.com/jet-in-close-up

12 | JETInsight | THE PILLAR OF JET RETIRES

Michael watkins leaves Jet after 38 years.

n 27th september, efDa cordially Michael, what do you recall as your most exciting farewelled Michael watkins. Michael times at JET? came to culham 38 years ago, the o There were so many, and of different kinds. Technically, year the Jet design started, and has worked the first highlight was JET’s construction being completed with all of the Jet Directors, from hans-otto on time and on budget. Then, JET operated well above wüster to the current efDa leader and Jet its design parameters, and also with a divertor to exhaust fuel and power. Scientifically, the observation of the H- leader francesco romanelli. he was involved mode was a highlight: JET was still under construction in the scientific growth of Jet, first as a re - when the H-mode was discovered on ASDEX and it was difficult to say whether it would be found on JET. searcher and then as scientific assistant The beryllium in-vessel components, introduced 25 years to Jet Directors paul-henri rebut, Martin ago after controversial discussions, paved the way for Keilhacker and Jean Jacquinot. in 1999, under the present ITER-Like-Wall of beryllium and . A major event was the use of the deuterium-tritium, or efDa associate leader for Jet Jérôme paméla, D-T, fusion reactor fuel. JET demonstrated the world’s Michael played a key role in managing the first controlled release of D-T in 1991 and, transition from the Jet Joint undertaking to in 1997, set two world records, producing 16 megawatts of fusion power and 22 megajoules of fusion energy. Jet under efDa. he was head of the pro - Organisationally, JET underwent a complete change from gramme Department and head of inter - the JET Joint Undertaking to JET under EFDA. The way in which we did research had to be altered totally. Instead national relations until becoming senior of having all staff on site, the Atomic advisor to the efDa leader when efDa was Energy Authority, and today CCFE, now operates the re-organised earlier this year. JET Facilities and researchers from throughout Europe come to JET to carry out experiments. Organising that was very demanding. We started developing the pro- gramme with the EFDA Associates towards the end of 1999. It was a great relief when the first JET Restart under EFDA was completed and researchers arrived for the first experiments on 31 May 2000.

13 FUSION in europe | JETInsight |

If you look at the organisational change in hindsight, what are your conclusions?

First, I must stress the similarities between the JET Joint Undertaking and JET under EFDA. Among these are JET’s international character, its focus on the issues for the next tokamak, ITER, and its constant obligation to demonstrate its unique relevance in order to secure a programme extension. But there are differences. For example, researchers who participate in the experimen- tal programme are on-site for only about two months per year, on average. To manage this and to retain re- searchers’ focus on JET when they return to their home laboratories can be a challenge. However, this is com- pensated by the two-fold increase in the number of re- searchers working on the programme and the profound knowledge which they bring from their home labora- tories.

So could one say that JET comprises the best of Europe?

Yes, you could very much say that.

You said that there were also cultural highlights. Which are these? You played a key role in that transition – what was your biggest challenge? It is the very nature of JET that people from different backgrounds work together as a single team with the My main area was the JET experimental programme. same aim. It’s this approach that leads to success and The fact that researchers would come to JET just when this must be the case also if the world-wide fusion pro- they were needed for the experiments meant that we gramme is to realise the potential of fusion. A specific had to plan the programme in detail a long time in ad- cultural highlight in working together internationally vance. Proposals for experiments were submitted by was instigated by EFDA-JET 10 years ago: the the EFDA Associates, rationalised against the agreed International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA) identi- objectives and set in a logical sequence. The experi- fied the high priority research needs for ITER but there mental programme had then to be staffed. Fusion re- was no mechanism for consolidating wishes into com- searchers cover more than 60 skills and a different mitments. As IEA Large Tokamak Implementing blend of these is needed for each experiment. We in- Agreement Chair, EFDA-JET established annual meet- teracted closely with the Associates to identify the re- ings in which the ITPA Chairs made clear which ex- searchers who would come and when they could come, periments were needed and the tokamak Programme and match these to the experimental programme. Three Leaders committed to certain experiments and agreed years ago, we introduced general planning meetings, on which would be done collaboratively. which made the process more collaborative and effi- Another cultural highlight is EFDA-JET’s involvement cient. There, representatives of the Associates present with EIROforum, a partnership of the European Inter - their ideas for experiments and researchers, who work national Research Organisations CERN, EFDA-JET, along similar lines, then cluster together to develop EMBL, ESA, ESO, ESRF, EU.XFEL and ILL. Ex - proposals. periences and good practices are shared, policy papers

14 | JETInsight | prepared, and actions undertaken to improve the research environment. Open access to facilities and results is one such practice of major importance for publicly-funded research and one that is at the very heart of EFDA.

How long do you think JET could or should contribute to fusion research?

With the recent upgrades, JET will be even closer to ITER conditions and ready to address issues that have yet to be resolved completely. We’ve seen the H-mode and improved H-mode translate to JET, but other effects do not and are unlikely to translate to ITER. In my view, JET must operate again with D-T and with ELM-control coils to capitalise on the understanding that will be gained from the ITER-Like-Wall and increased heating power. The demonstration of a fully integrated scenario at high performance and in D-T would be a major step for- ward, strengthening the scientific foundations of The father of ITER. This opportunity must not be missed. JET and ITER Could JET serve as a blueprint for ITER with respect to international collaboration? commemorated

Yes, I believe so. JET has always been a truly inter- On November 21, a celebration was held at JET national project. At present, the 300 European re- to commemorate the life and work of Donato searchers involved in JET experiments are comple- mented by more than 100 from the US, Japan, the Palumbo, involving personal recollections from Russian Federation, China, Korea, Brazil, India and former colleagues, friends and family. Kazakhstan. Going forward by integrating fully the world-wide fusion community into the JET pro- n 1958, in the heady times following the declassifi- gramme would bring scientific, technical, organi- cation of fusion research, theoretical physicist Do- sational and cultural benefits to the ITER Members Inato Palumbo was asked to set up a European fusion as they prepare for ITER operation. program within Euratom. He was not enthusiastic be- cause he thought the task was too hard, but took the Michael, thank you very much for sharing job anyway. Little did he know that this task would en- gage him for the next thirty years, and his influence with us your highly interesting insights into would propel Europe to the forefront of fusion re- JET history and its possible future. We wish search. you all the very best for your future. “Without him, there would be no European Fusion Pro gramme.” said Catherine Cezarsky, Chair of the Consultative Committee for Euratom – Fusion (CCE-FU). Umberto Finzi, the European Commission’s Coordinator for Energy and the Environment echoed these sentiments “Palumbo had scientific skills, but also a lot of political skills and diplomatic sensitivity, which made possible JET, and is making possible ITER at the world level.”

15 FUSION in europe | JETInsight |

20 YEARS OF FUSION POWER

celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the preliminary tritium experiment – the first generation of fusion power ever – followed the palumbo commemoration. More than afifty staff attended in person, and a number of associations connected via video to hear an inspirational talk by the session leader for the first pte experiments, alan gibson. Dr gibson re- created the euphoric mood of the time with excerpts from the Jet log, personal stories and media reports from the time, such as one naming Jet staff as “our fusion heroes!” impromptu recollecti- ons from people who were there in 1991 concluded the afternoon, and the crowd spilled into the foyer for afternoon tea optimistic about future tritium experiments.

“He was a master of bargaining” said Catherine Cesarsky. During the official opening of JET in 1984, Professor Palumbo was famously asked by Queen Eliza beth how he had managed to achieve an agree- ment for JET. “By disobeying or- ders” was his reply. This response did not endear him to administra- tors, who threatened to fire him if he repeated the stunt. Professor Palumbo was undaunted, as he was no stranger to conflict; he re- called at times encountering “con- siderable difficulty, even hostility”. However his colleagues recalled that his “unflinching confidence was a great help to keep the mo - EFDA Leader Francesco Romanelli presents a plaque to Donato Palumbo’s son Carlo. rale high.” Romano Toschi, former director of NET, recalled One of Professor Palumbo’s many innovations was Palumbo’s confidence throughout the early eighties. to design a unique relationship between the fusion lab- Palumbo established a design team to work on an ex- oratories and the Commission, in the form of periment to follow JET, known as NET. After the Associations with a shared funding model and prefer- Gorbachev-Reagan meeting put fusion back on the in- ential support for projects. In addition, he understood ternational agenda in 1985, Palumbo’s perseverance the need for a large joint venture following the suc- came to fruition; the expertise developed by the NET cessful results of the Russian tokamak T3 in 1968. Thus team put them at the forefront of design for the future he set up JET as a joint undertaking between the device, now named ITER. Commission and the Euratom member states. Former Reflecting on Donato Palumbo’s legacy, EFDA ITER director Robert Aymar stressed the importance Leader Francesco Romanelli called for similar dedica- of Palumbo’s structure: “The fusion programme was tion, vision and courage today. “We need to adapt our protected from pressure from governments and not di- organisation to the challenges of the ITER era. We rectly managed by the Commission". need again the longer term view of Palumbo, and To mastermind such an agreement in the “intricate en- courage in all of us to take the necessary steps.” vironment” of the European politics was an achievement. Phil Dooley, EFDA

16 | JETInsight | JETGUESTbOOK

Some of the nearly 1400 persons who paid a visit to JET from July through November: I More than 200 members /representative of european industry came for tours and discussions. I nearly 300 school students and their teachers visited the facilities. I More than 250 university students and nearly 200 scientists from various disciplines attended tours, seminars or summer schools at Jet/ccfe.

EFDA JET Department and Dr Liz Surrey, Head of Beamline Physics at CCFE for a tour of Europe’s largest fusion experiment. Throughout 2011, JET has welcomed various high tech engineering companies and conglom- erates, which demonstrates the continuing interest in the range of technologies being developed at JET. “As a strong player in the field of conventional and sustainable energy solutions, Siemens is interested in fusion as a potential future energy source. I am en- gaged in the European Fusion Industry Innovation Forum with the aim to intensify the links between fusion research and industry, to foster the education of experts who will build future fusion power plants and to con- tribute to the definition of a demonstration power plant, which EFDA carries out in dialogue with industry. Just I On 25 October, JET was pleased to welcome eight like the Apollo space programme triggered innovations, high-level representatives of Siemens AG. Dr Reinhold which brought immense progress to society, technologies Achatz, the Head of Siemens’ global research organisa- developed by fusion research will be highly interesting tion Corporate Research and Technologies (CT), Profes- for other fields of application. Heat resistant materials sor Hubertus von Dewitz, representative of Siemens’ based on tungsten, are just one such example. They Chief Technology Office, CT experts for new technologies generate considerable interest in numerous applications, and concepts as well as members of the board of Siemens for instance in gas turbines.” Industry UK, joined Dr Lorne Horton, Head of the Hubertus von Dewitz, Siemens Chief Technology Office

I Nine Dutch science journalists visited JET on 1 No- vember, accompanied by representatives of the Dutch EURATOM-Association. The visit was organised by the FOM Institute for Plasma Physics in order to advertise fusion in general and the newly upgraded JET facility in particular. EFDA-Leader Francesco Romanelli wel- comed the group and presented the history of fusion and the new capabilities of JET. Tony Donné, Head of Research Unit of the Association Euratom-FOM, fol- lowed up with a talk about how Dutch fusion research lines up with the JET and the ITER programmes. Then the group had a tour of the torus hall and surrounding working lunch, including Dutch staff working at JET, areas. Highlights were on-site talks about the upgraded rounded up the event and gave the visitors the chance neutral beams, remote handling and diagnostics, the to make interview appointments with the JET staff. new ITER-Like-Wall, and the JET control room. A net- Gieljan de Vries, MSc, FOM

17 FUSION in europe | Community | People | Outstanding scientists honoured at its annual conference, held from June 27–July 1 2011, the plasma physics Division of the european physical society continued its promotion of excellence in research by rewarding researchers who have achieved outstanding scientific or technological results.

The 2011 divisional Hannes Alfvén Prize was awarded to Patrick Diamond from the University of California and the National Fusion Research Institute in Korea, to from Osaka University, Japan, and to Kunioki Mima, from the Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries at Kamamatsu, Japan, for “laying the foundations of modern numer- ical transport simulations and key contributions on self-generated zonal flows and flow shear decorrela- From left: Kunioki Mima, Akira Hasegawa, Patrick Diamond and Carlos Hidalgo tion mechanisms which form the basis of modern turbulence in plasmas.” of simulations to predict turbulent transport. Their The energy and particle transport associated with results have already been partly confirmed in tokamak plasma turbulences is an important parameter for the and experiments and provide the basis for confinement of a fusion plasma. Diamond, Hasegawa further developing prediction of transport in future and Mima substantially advanced the development fusion devices.

and to Manfred Kaspar Andreas Thumm from Karls - ruhe Institute of Technology , Germany for “for out- standing contributions to the realisation of a high power gyrotron for multi-megawatt long-pulse elec- tron cyclotron heating and current drive on magnetic confinement plasma devices“. Electron-cyclotron resonance is a modern and effi- cient method for plasma heating and current drive. The systems are based on gyrotrons – very powerful From left: Keishi Sakamoto, Alexander Litvak and Manfred Thumm microwave sources, which generate radiation at megawatt power levels and in long-pulse regimes. The 2011 Plasma Physics Innovation Prize is awarded The teams led by Litvak, Sakamoto and Thumm to Alexander Litvak from the Institute of Applied contri buted substantially to the theoretical and ex- Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, to Keishi perimental research and innovation on high power, Sakamoto from the Japan Atomic Energy Agency long pulse gyrotrons.

The EPS PhD Research Award is a key element to re - cognise the exceptional quality of work carried out by young scientists. In 2011 the judging committee gave awards to Stefan Kneip, Imperial College, UK, for the investi- gation of laser generation of x-rays, including the study of electron acceleration in the bubble regime and experimental demonstration of self-guiding. From left: Julian Schulze, Mierk Schwabe and Stefan Kneip Julian Schulze, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, Mierk Schwabe, Max-Planck Institute for Extra terres - for his research on electron heating in capacitively trial Physics, Germany, for her research on dynamical coupled radio frequency discharges, including contri- effects in complex plasmas studying phenomena or- butions on electrical asymmetry effects affecting ion dinarily described by fluid dynamics at the level of in- energy distribution. dividual particles.

Carlos Hidalgo, Chair EPS Plasma Physics Division more information: http://plasma.ciemat.es/awards.shtml

18 | Community | People | New Heads of Research Unit appointed

Swedish Association EURATOM-VR Association EURATOM-Belgian State GÖRAN ERICSSON BERNARD KNAEPEN

Professor Göran Ericsson Bernard Knaepen has “As Head of Research is the leader of the fusion been a Professor in the “As Head of Research Unit of the Association diagnostic group at Physics De part ment at the Department of Phy sics Uni ver si té Libre de EURATOM-VR, I hope Unit at ULB, I plan to and As tro nomy, Upp sala Bruxelles (ULB) since to promote a closer col- University, Swe den. He ob- 2006. He graduated focus the activities of laboration between the tained his PhD in high en- from this institute in the group on the mod- ergy physics at Upp sala 1995 and obtained his groups of the Swedish eling of liquid metal University in 1988. He con- PhD in 1999 on the university-based tinued with a two-year subject of gauge ano - flows under strong Association and also post-doc at the University ma lies in quantum magnetic fields, such strengthen the success- of Lund, Swe den, working field theory. Just after on instrumentation, exper- finishing his PhD, he as those encountered ful participation of the imentation and simulations visited the Depart ment in prototype fusion VR Association in for heavy ion experiments. of Applied Ma the ma - blankets, and on the EFDA with a special From 1991, Professor Eric- tics and Theo re tical view to ITER” sson worked for two years Phy sics of Cam bridge study of particle trans- as Senior Research Engi- Uni ver sity (UK) for six port in magnohydro- neer in the carbon-14 dating group at the Uppsala Uni- months and became versity Tandem accelerator lab. In 1993 he was appointed interested in fluid dy- dynamic turbulence.” a research fellowship within the newly formed fusion namics and plasma neutron diagnostic group at Uppsala University, and be- turbulence. During his came Group Leader in 2007. Ericsson has taught energy- post-doc at Stanford University (USA) in 2002-2003, related courses at Uppsala University and supervised a he specialized in liquid-metal magnohydrodynamic tur- large number of Diploma theses and PhD students. He bulence and numerical simulations which are now his has been Deputy Dean of department and serves in the main topics of research. He established these research advisory body of one of the Civil Engineering teaching areas at ULB after receiving a European Young programs at Uppsala University. Professor Ericsson has Investigator Award from the European Science served on the Swedish Advisory Committee for fusion Foundation in 2005. Professor Knaepen is also inter- during the 2000’s and in the EFDA-STAC since 2010. In ested in high school physics teaching as he currently is July 2011 he was appointed Head of the Swedish Re- responsible for the physics didactic programme for search Unit Euratom-VR. masters students at his university.

19 FUSION in europe | Community | In dialogue | Camp of The 23rd brilliant Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Helsinki

JET is pleased to welcome brains this year’s prize winner, Azza Faiad, from Egypt. The 16 year-old im- pressed the jury with her project named: ometimes even the rich “Production of hydrocarbon fuel English language does not by catalytic cracking of high density Sprovide enough vocabulary. Esteemed repre- polyethylene wastes”. Azza investi- sentatives of renowned institutions used in their gated the potential use of waste plas- speeches words such as “bright”, “talented”, and tics as a fuel source, testing a variety “enthusiastic” tirelessly. However, these are in- of catalytic converters. sufficient words to describe the the young scientists presenting their work at the Euro- The award ceremony took place pean Union Contest for Young Scientist”, at Helsinki University festival hall, EUCYS for short. a marvellous Empire style building. After the prizes were handed out, one could see the relief on all the faces, and The perseverance and seriousness with which these 16 the disappointment on those who hadn’t won a prize. to 20 year old students pursue their projects is astonish- However, it was a pleasure to exchange information with ing. This generation of highly motivated young re- the next generation of researchers. And it somehow com- searchers has no shyness, no hesitation to travel 1,000 forting that these clever scientists turned back into young miles or more from their home city to present their proj- people, laughing and flirting, enjoying their scientific ad- ect in a foreign language. Morten Lennholm, a scientist venture, their life, the opposite sex and the prospects of at JET attended EUCYS to deliver a talk about the sci- their promising future. ence in JET. He had the chance to visit many stands. Petra Nieckchen, EFDA He was extremely impressed “I was thinking back, when more information: http://eucys2011.tek.fi/ I was their age, I would not have had the initiative and Watch an interview with azza: http://tinyurl.com/azzafaidad the motivation to do the job they have done”.

EUCYS has a long history. Initiated in 1968, it was re- born in 1989 when the European Commission donated the first cash prizes under its patronage. Over the years more and more organisations have shown interest in encouraging the next generation and donated prizes. Since 2000 the EIROforum members offer a week’s stay in their organisation. More recently industry have been realising the great opportunity this camp of brilliant brains presents for picking out potential employees.

The prizes awarded by the EIROs are an invaluable op- portunity for the promising students to meet ‘real’ sci- entists, to give a presentation on their project and, im- portantly, to start networking. (Picture: P. Nieckchen, EFDA) 20 | Community | In dialogue Get your hands on, run experiments, try things out

our ideas create change!“ is the motto of Ger- many’s large science and technology event „YIdeenExpo. The Expo targets children, teen- agers and young adults, and presents career and educa- tional options in scientific and technical occupations. In this way, IdeenExpo aims to combat the emerging Large interest for Fusion: IPP PhD student Christian Wimmer on the right, Lower-Saxony’s science minister Professor Johanna Wanka second from left. (Picture: IdeenExpo GmbH) shortage of skilled personnel in these areas. Between 27 August and 4 September, the Expo welcomed 310,000 Many teachers took the opportunity to inform themsel- visitors, most of whom were school classes. IPP toget- ves about fusion or enquire for potential visits to IPP. her with Augsburg University contributed to the event IdeenExpo usually draws a large number of high ran- with a hands-on station where visitors could try expe- king politicians and this year welcomed German presi- riments on their own. The station raised so much inte- dent Christian Wulff and several federal ministers. rest that soon the presenters nearly lost their voices. Julia Sieber, IPP

Home-made neutrons Milan Ripa from IPP Prague recounts how he helped a high school student to build a .

t all began with a single question: „Is it possible to generate an electric current directly from a plas - Ima?“. Thus wrote high school student Peter Svihra from Martin, Slovakia to IPP Prague. As usual, I sent the answer. More emails followed. One year later Peter asked me to review his “We report „“ and I began to give him advise on his were glad we made studies. Peter and his schoolma- the second place. The first tes, Birivan Nabova and Michal since then, several have been prize was a trip to CERN. But Ra˘cko were taking part in the built by students and other non-sci- Slovak student competition we were more interested in the entists. “CASCADE projects 2011”, or- COMPASS tokamak than in The Slovak fusor trio reached ganised by the Uni ver sity of Zi- the final of the CASCADE competi- the Large Hadron Collider!” lina. The application included tion and eventually won second place. presentation and experimental PETER SVIHRA The prize was a trip to Prague, where work and the three students decided Peter visited the COMPASS tokamak and to build a fusor machine. met Petr Hoffer from IPP Prague, who would A fusor is a spherical accelerator, which also like to build a fusor device. “shoots” nuclei into the sphere’s centre fast The author thanks Jan Mlynar, IPP Prague, for assisting with the translation enough to fuse. In 2006, a US high school student built one of the first fusors as a , and explore the fusor community: http://www.fusor.net.

21 FUSION IN EUROPE | NewsFlash | NEWSFLASH

European Doctoral College on Fusion attracts great interest

On 7 November, the Erasmus Mundus International Doctoral College in Fusion Science and Engineering opened the application process. The published list of more than 25 proposed topics for eight doctoral scholarships, which start next year, generated immediate interest: Within eleven days, 18 students had already started the online application process. The first PhD programmes will start in September 2012.

The thesis topics cover fields of physics and engineering which address the major remaining challenges on the quest for fusion power and are therefore seen as vital elements of today’s education of future fusion experts: Subjects include: Tokamak physics and technology for ITER and beyond; Stellarator and reversed field re- search; Plasma-Wall interaction and materials research; Plasma theory and computational physics; Diagnostics and plasma control.

Funded with about five million Euros, the programme runs over five years and supports 40 PhD students in total. Every year, it grants eight doctoral scholarships, which last for three years. The programme offers a wide diversity of research opportunities through its consortium of 19 European partner institutions from eight European countries, the ITER Organization and nine associated partners from China, Japan, Russia and the USA.

The deadline for online applications is 15 January, 2012. More information: http://www.em-fusion-dc.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

20th Plasma-Surface Interaction Conference In Aachen, Germany, from 20 May until 25 May 2012 Registration is open now! Further information plus posters and flyers to download: www.fz-juelich.de/psi2012

ESCAMPIG 2012 XXI Europhysics Conference on the Atomic and Molecular Physics of Ionized Gases Viana do Castelo, Portugal 10–14 July 2012 Deadlines for Abstract Submission: February 24th, 2012; Early Registration: April 16th, 2012 More information: http://escampig2012.ist.utl.pt

22 28 european countries signed an agreement to work on an energy source for the future: EFDA provides the framework, JET, the Joint European Torus, is the shared experiment, fusion energy is the goal.

Institute of Plasma Physics Academy of Sciences of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Bulgarian Academy of Sciences University of Cyprus Czech Republic AUSTRIA BELGIUM BULGARIA CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC DENMARK

Finnish Funding Agency for Technology University of Tartu and Innovation Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik ESTONIA FINLAND FRANCE GERMANY GERMANY GERMANY

Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l’energia e lo sviluppo Association EURATOM – EURATOM Hellenic Republic Hungarian Academy of Sciences Dublin University economico sostenibile University of Latvia Lithuanian Energy Institute GREECE HUNGARY IRELAND ITALY LATVIA LITHUANIA

Institute of Plasma Physics Ministère de l’Energie University of Malta and Laser Microfusion LUXEMBURG MALTA POLAND

Instituto Superior Técnico Ministry of Education and Research Comenius University PORTUGAL ROMANIA SLOVAKIA

Ministry of Higher Education, Science Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas and Technology Medioambientales y Tecnológicas SLOVENIA SPAIN

Centre de Recherches en Physique Swedish Research Council des Plasmas SWEDEN SWITZERLAND

FOM – Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter THE NETHERLANDS UNITED KINGDOM

Our partners:

FRANCE F4E, SPAIN

23 EUROPEAN FUSION DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ISSN 1818-5355