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THE FUSION PROGRAM OF JAPAN 



Large Facilities 



The current Japanese program is based on a 1975 decision to build the 

 tokamak device, JT-60, as a national project carrying the highest 

 priority. 



This policy was expanded in 1981 by a reconunendation of the Nuclear 

 Fusion Council, which was adopted by the Atomic Energy Commission in 

 1982. The program called for development work by JAERI under STA, 

 leading toward a tokamak reactor, and basic reseach, including 

 small-scale work on alternate approaches, at the universities and 

 National Laboratories under Monbusho. The dividing lines between the 

 two segments are not entirely clear. 



The STA-JAERI program is focussed on developing the tokamak concept 

 to the commercial stage in a sequence of experiments (JT-60 to FER to 

 DEMO) and supporting technology development activities. At present, 

 the primary emphasis in the program is on completion of JT-60 (Japan 

 Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1982) . The Naka site of JT-60 will 

 also accommodate the FER. The purpose of FER is not only to 

 demonstrate plasma ignition and burning, but also to provide a 

 facility for testing and demonstrating fusion technology. The current 

 JAERI plan is to construct FER on the Naka site, with a decision in 

 the late 1980s, after JT-60 results are evaluated, to initiate 

 construction. Officials at STA and the Science Council expressed a 

 less firm commitment to FER, noting that the plan was made three years 

 ago in a different financial climate. 



The STA-JAERI program accounted in 1981 for over 77 percent of the 

 budget. JT-60 expenditures in 1981 constituted 80 percent of the 

 JAERI expenditures. 



The JT-60 is now at about 85-percent completion, with first plasma 

 expected in about one year and completion of the heating systems about 

 a year later. The total cost will be over $1 billion. All components 

 are being thoroughly tested. Expenditures will be high but decreasing 

 during 1985 and 1986, freeing up some funds for the development work 

 scheduled for FER. The cost of FER is anticipated to be about $2 

 billion plus about $0.7 billion for development. 



The general impression of the committee is that the Japanese have a 

 strong and well planned applied research program in nuclear 

 fusion — much stronger than many committee members expected to find. 

 The JT-60 is clearly in the same "generation" as the TFTR at Princeton 

 even though it will operate with hydrogen only. The "on time-within 

 specification" construction of JT-60 is impressive. The back-up test 

 and development facilities lend credibility to the optimism of the 

 Japanese regarding their ability to design, build, and operate their 

 next big test facility, FER. 



