H-PTh-14 History of Nuclear Fusion Research in Japan Harukazu IGUCHI, Keisuke MATSUOKA1, Kazue KIMURA, Chusei NAMBA, and Shinzaburo MATSUDA2 Fusion Science Archives, National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki 509-5292, Japan 1 Prof. Emeritus of National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan. 2 Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan E-mail:[email protected] The atomic energy research was declassified worldwide at the International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in 1955. In the late 1950s there was a lively discussion among scientists on the strategy of nuclear fusion research in Japan, leading to the conclusion that fusion research should be started from the basic, namely, research on plasma physics and from cultivation of human resources at universities under the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (MOE). However, an endorsement was given that construction of an experimental device for fusion research would be approved sooner or later. Meanwhile, confinement studies were conducted specifically in USSR and USA with tokamaks and multipoles, respectively. In Japan, studies on toroidal plasma confinement started at Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) under the Science and Technology Agency (STA) in the mid-1960s. Successful results from tokamak researches in USSR encouraged scientists worldwide, which resulted in construction rush of tokamaks in Japan, too. However, dualistic fusion research framework established in 1960s has lasted until now; MOE for science and STA for development. World Trend in Early Days as a Background Extracted from “Presidential Address at the 1st International REVIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL The 3rd IAEA Conf. on Nuclear Fusion at Novosibirsk, 1968 Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy” by Mr. RESULTS by ARTSIMOVICH at 1st IAEA Homi J. Bhabha (India) on 8 August 1955 (at Geneva) Successful experimental results on Tokamak Conf., 1961 （Nuclear Fusion: 1962 T-3 (Kurchatov Inst.) were reported. They were: It is well known that Supplement, Part 1 p.9-14） 12 13 Te ~ 100-2000 eV, Ti ~ 300 eV, ne ~ 10 -5x10 atomic energy can be -3 cm , τE ~ 10 ms. obtained by a fusion These results were confirmed by Thomson process as in the H-bomb, L. A. ARTSIMOVICH (Kurchatov Inst. , USSR) Scattering measurements performed by and there is no basic researchers from Culham Lab. UK in 1969, scientific knowledge in our It is now clear to all that our original beliefs that the doors into the which opened the age of Tokamak in fusion possession today to show desired region of ultra-high temperatures would open smoothly at research. that it is impossible for us the first powerful exerted by the creative energy of physicists, have to obtain this energy from proved as unfounded as the sinner’s hope entering Paradise without Presiding over the opening session of the the fusion process in a Conference. Left to right: Mr. Max Petitpierre, controlled manner. The passing through Purgatory. And yet there can be scarcely any President of the Swiss Confederation; Mr. Dag technical problems are doubt that the problem of controlled fusion will eventually be Hammarskjold, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Mr. Homi J. Bhabha, President formidable, but one should solved. Only we do not know how long we shall have to remain of the Conference; Mr. Walter G. Whitman, remember that it is not yet in Purgatory. We shall have to leave it with an ideal vacuum Conference Secretary-General fifteen years since atomic technology, with the magnetic configurations worked out, with an energy was released in an accurate geometry for the lines of force and with programmed atomic pile for the first time by Fermi. I venture to predict that conditions for the electrical contours, bearing in our hands the high a method will be found for temperature plasma, stable and in repose, pure as a concept in liberating fusion energy in a theoretical physics when it is still unsullied by contact with controlled manner within the experimental fact. next two decades. 2nd International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (ICPUAE) held at Geneva in September 1958 Fusion Science Archives, National Institute for Fusion Science / Oct. 2008 Acknowledgement: The author thanks The 50-year Celebration Committee of “The Japan Society of Plasma Physics and Nuclear JT-60 (JAERI) Fusion Research” for providing him with photos and fruitful comments. LHD (NIFS) CONFINEMENT 1968 3rd IAEA 1974 5th IAEA Conf. 1980 ICPP（Nagoya） 1986 11th. IAEA 1998 17th. IAEA 1985 Stellarator Conf. ”Results from T‐3 (Tokyo) Conf.（Kyoto） Conf.（Yokohama） 1982 H‐mode Agreement (IEA) 1961 1st. IAEA Conf. tokamak” （ASDEX） 1965 2nd. IAEA Conf. 1978‐1987 2007 ITER Validation of 1955 1958 1992 Japan joined 1988 ITER CDA 1992 ITER EDA 2001 Intergovernmental 2006 ITER Sign‐up (Purgatory) “Min.B in Ohkawa Torus” INTOR Agreement, Construction 1st. Geneva Conf. 2nd Geneva Conf. Negotiation for ITER 2005 ITER Site of Agreement “Ioffe bar” 1970 C Stellarator → 1982 Currentless 2002 Council for Science Started 1969 1979 Japan‐US Cooperation ST Tokamak 1978 TEXTOR Plasma (W7‐A) 1983 JET and Tech. Policy, Cabinet Te meas. by Program Including (International Agreement (IEA) 1988 1991 JET Burning 1993 TFTR Fusion Office 2005 JAEC Report on D.C.Robinson in T‐3 DIII‐D Collaboration Experiment Power of 10 MW 2007 BA Agreement W7‐AS and Cabinet Council “Future Strategy on Fusion in Relation) 2001 JAEC Report on Japan” Sign（Feb.）、Validation 1978 T of 7 keV (PLT) 1982 TFTR accept ITER 1959 JAERI i “Promotion of ITER” （June） 1968 JAEC Fusion Lab. 1969‐1973 JFT‐1 1983‐2003 JFT‐2M 1986 JAEC Nuclear 1958 JAEC Expert Committee 1992 JAEC Report on 1972‐1981 JFT‐2 Fusion Council “On 1975 JAEC “2nd Stage of “3rd. Stage of 1996 JT‐60 Fusion Triple Product of Expert Committee “Fusion Nominated as 1985 JT‐60 Framework of Next (STA) 1974‐1980 JFT‐2a National Project of National Project of 1.5×1021keV・m‐3・sec for Nuclear Fusion National Project” Stage of Fusion Fusion” Fusion” Experimental Research” and Theoretical 2006 JT‐60 Spontaneous 1970 JIPP‐1 1976 JIPPT‐II 1978 Reacting Plasma Project (R‐project) 1991 JT‐60 Modified for 1993 JT‐60 CD of Current: 70 % of Ip, 8 sec. Activities 1958 Kakuyugo‐ 1983 JIPP T‐IIU 1998 JT‐60 Qeq=1.25 1961 Institute of Plasma 1967 Comments by Stellarator 3.6 MA Discharge in JAERI, ETL, Kondankai (Fusion AB‐ High Ip Operation Physics (IPP), Nagoya Univ. T.Ohkawa and S.Yoshikawa QUEST (Kyushu Univ.) RIKEN, Society) Dispute 1976 Heliotron (Kyoto) 2003 MEXT Science and Tech. Universities QP, TP, BSG 1976 Laser (Osaka) 1980 Science Council 1984 Science Council 1986 MOE 1988 Task Force Council, Working Group “On 1975 MOE Science 1978 Fusion Theory (Hiroshima) “Long‐term Strategy of “Future Plan of Panel on and Preparatory Future of Fusion Research In Council, Report on Fusion in Universities” Fusion in Fusion Office for Future 1989 NIFS 1998 LHD 2001 LHD Te of 10 Japan” 1959 SCJ Special 1979 Plasma Research (Tsukuba) “Promotion of Fusion” Universities” “Future Plan Plan keV Committee for Nuclear 1965 SCJ Special 1980 Tritium (Toyama) in Univ.” Fusion Committee →Panel on Fusion 1980 New‐type Laser(Tokyo) 2003 LHD β=4.1%, 2005 LHD Input Energy 2006 LHD β5% n of 19931989NIFSNIFS Super 1999 CHS ITB 756 sec. Discharge e (MOE) Pink Pamphlet on Future →Set‐up of Centers 1988 CHS of 1.6 GJ, 1hr. 1x1021m‐3 Computer Strategy Discharge 1980 Heliotron E (H‐ 1982 Currentless Plasma in H‐E 2000 Heliotron J 1970 Heliotron D E) 2004 NIFS Bidirectional 1991 Gekko XII 1982 Gekko XII 1983 Gekko XII 1986 Gekko XII Collaborative Research 1977 Gekko IV × 10 13 Imploded Density:103× 2002 Fast Ignition 1971 Neutron Generation with neutron 4 10 neutron10 Project Solid Density 1 keV Laser by Osaka Univ.’ group at IPP, JAEC: Japan Atomic Energy Commission 1965 Heliotron C (LFEX laser) 1959 1960 Heliotron Nagoya Univ. 1986 Gamma 10 (through Collaboration 1978 GAMMA 6 Heliotron A B 1982 GAMMA 10 Thermal Barrier SCJ: Science Council of Japan with IPP） 1978 TRIAM‐1 1986 TRIAM‐1M 1989 TRIAM‐1M 2003 TRIAM‐1M 2008 QUEST CD for >1 hr. 5 hr. Discharge 1983 WT‐2 Tokamak 1999 High Temp. Plasma Center Discharge w/o OH from 1984‐2000 WT‐3 (Univ. of Tokyo) Start‐up Brief description of early phase of FUSION ENGINEERING fusion research in Japan 1991 Gyrotron Test Facility 1981 JT‐60 NBI Proto‐type Unit (Since 1987 Utilized as PBEF for Reactor Eng. Studies) 1986 Negative Ion Beam of 1990 Negative Ion Beam of 10 A 1994 Energy Recovery Efficiency of 50% In 1950s information on nuclear fusion research in the world was rather widely spread １ A for 110 GHz Gyrotron 1985 LCT 2006 170 GHz Gyrotron 1 MW/ 800 among nuclear physicists, astrophysicists, researchers of electric engineering and others in 1981 Fusion Neutronics 1996 Large Scale SC Coil 1997 Development & Validation 2006 170 GHz Gyrotron sec/ Efficiency 55%, ITER Mission 1976 JAEC Sectional Source (FNS) Test Stand for ITER of Diamond Window 1hr. Operation Achieved Japan. Experimental and theoretical studies started at JAERI, ETL (Electrotechnical Labo- Committee on Tritium 1985 Tritium Process 1989 JAERI Electron Laboratory (TPL) Beam Irradiation Stand 1994 MeV‐class Ion 2002 Stable Operation 2005 MeV Accelerator Produced (JEBIS) Source Test Stand of 1 MV in Vacuum ratory, former AIST), RIKEN and universities nationwide. 1977 JAEC Sectional ITER‐class Power Density of Negative 2000 CS Model Coil for Insulated Accelerator (STA) Committee on Biological Ion Beam 1994 JT‐60 Negative‐NBI ITER 13 Tesla These activities made industry-government-academia aware of importance of nuclear Effect of Tritium 1986 JAEC Nuclear Fusion 1992 ITER ７Major Gyrotron (JAEA) Council “On Framework of 1988‐1993 Eng.