595 



specifically to imply working actively together as approximately equal 

 partners in sizeable enterprises. 



Major Next-Step Tokamak Experiments 



The EC and Japan are planning experiments (NET and FER) with ambitious 

 physics and technology objectives. These experiments are intended to 

 be initiated at the end of the 1980s, after the essential results from 

 TFTR, JET, and JT-60 are available, and to be operational at the end 

 of the 1990s. 



If the United States initiates a next-step tokamak project within 

 the next several years, then the Japanese and Europeans could be 

 invited to participate in a U.S. project. The Japanese and Europeans 

 might be interested in providing components for the project if chose 

 components incorporated technologies that were relevant to their 

 subsequent FER and NET experiments. 



On the other hand, if a next-step tokamak project is to be delayed 

 beyond the next several years, the United States should explore the 

 possibility of joining with Japan and the EC, on a roughly equal 

 basis, in an international project to plan, design, construct, and 

 operate an experiment with objectives similar to those of FER and 

 NET. The participation could be staged, with decisions on 

 continuation made at the end of each stage. 



The physics of tokamaks can be also advanced by experiments on 

 intermediate-level devices with special characteristics, such as 

 TEXTOR, ASDEX-U, and TORE SUPRA. Experiments like these offer 

 technical opportunities for useful international cooperation, in 

 preparation for collaboration on the larger devices. 



Fusion Technology 



The United States should explore the possibility of joining with Japan 

 and the EC in a three-way effort to identify what information and what 

 new fusion technology facilities will be needed and when, specify the 

 design requirements and experimental programs for such facilities, and 

 identify how the cost and responsibility for constructing and 

 operating these facilities might be distributed equitably among the 

 parties. Agreements among the three parties to participate in a 

 national test facility project of one of them could then be worked out 

 on a case-by-case basis. 



Alternative Confinement Concepts 



The United States is developing the tandem mirror, stellar ator, 

 reversed-f ield pinch, and compact toroid concepts and is investigating 



