674 



89 



o The U.S. fusion program and the development of fusion on a 

 vratldwide basis have been benefited significantly from the 

 active exchange of information and ideas. International 

 cooperation in fusion research should continue to receive 

 strong emphasis in the U.S. progrcun. 



o The planning of national fusion facilities and programs has 

 been guided to a considerable extent by a policy of avoiding 

 international duplication and instead addressing complementary 

 technical issues. This policy is both cost-effective and 

 conducive to rapid technical development. It encourages 

 broader coverage of options in the area of alternate concepts 

 and allows larger steps to be taken in the mainline approaches 

 within existing budgetary constraints. 



o While maximum effective use should be made of research 



facilities abroad, to supplement U.S. capabilities, the overall 

 priorities of the U.S. program should continue to emphasize the 

 most promising reactor approaches. 



o The international fusion effort will benefit from increased 

 consultation in program planning and from the initiation of 

 coordinated — or even jointly supported — research projects. 



— Magnetic Fusion Advisory Committee, 1983 



At the time of the workshop TFCX was identified as the critical 

 near-term project in the U.S. program, which should not be delayed for 

 reasons of international cooperation. A representative of the Office 

 of Fusion Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), described the 

 proposed TFCX as the "entry into the age of fusion power" but 

 occurring in the "age of budget deficits." He said that the Secretary 

 of Energy appeared sympathetic to TFCX, but required an answer to the 

 basic question: Should this be a national U.S. project or should it 

 be international? 



One participant advocated the following direction for the U.S. 

 programs, including major initiatives in both tokcunak and mirror 

 fusion: 



o The United States should position itself to lead an 



international effort in the 1990s by proceeding with TFCX. 



o The U.S. fusion program should position itself to meet an 



energy crisis by 1990 by proceeding with TFCX and also a mirror 

 device, complementary to TFCX, to test power-system components. 



o The U.S. fusion programs should not rely on international 



cooperation now, but should be initiating steps toward expanded 

 international cooperation, principally in technology 

 development projects of moderate scope. 



A number of workshop panelists emphasized the importance, to U.S. 

 energy needs and technological leadership, of maintaining national 

 control of program scope and direction, with opportunity for 

 international partners to contribute but not to select just the most 



