176 



Pursuit of these objectives is financially constrained, 

 in various degrees , in each of the four programs . 



The physics of laboratory plasmas at near fusion 

 conditions is essentially an experimental science today. 

 World leadership in fusion generally resides in that country 

 possessing the experimental facilities with the greatest 

 capability to explore the frontiers of plasma physics. 



Although you are well acquainted with the U.S. fusion 

 energy program, I will comment on it to establish 

 consistency in presentation. The U.S. has a strong 

 experimental TOKAMAK program that has established many of 

 the world record" plasma physics parameters. Two of these 

 experiments, TOKAMAK Fusion Tes.t. Reactor (TFTR) and Doublet 

 III, should continue to extend the knowledge of plasma 

 physics for the next five years or so. The U.S. also has 

 the leading experimental program in the tandem mirror 

 confinement concept which is the most advanced alternative 

 concept. Smaller programs are going forward in other less 

 advanced alternative magnetic confinement concepts. 



The EC program is perceived by its participants to be 

 on the threshold of assvmiing world leadership in fusion. 

 This is based on a new generation of TOKAMAK experiments 

 commonly known as JET, TORE SUPRA, ASDEX-A and FTU that will 

 be operating over the next decade. This view is shared by 



