726 



APPENDIX I APPENDIX I 



participation in this research provides U.S. scientists their main 

 source of information on this concept. 



An example of DOE's efforts to obtain budgetary relief 

 through the use of international cooperative projects is its on- 

 going negotiations with potential partners to participate in the 

 construction and operation of a fusion materials irradiation test 

 facility. Fusion R&D facilities are expensive, and this test 

 facility would be no exception; its cost is estimated to be over 

 $100 million. The facility would expose various materials to 

 intense neutron bombardment of the type that will occur in fusion 

 reactors in order to identify those materials best suited for key 

 components of fusion reactors. Although not considered essential 

 at this time by DOE for continued progress on the mainline fusion 

 concepts, it will ultimately be needed to identify the most 

 suitable materials for constructing a prototype reactor. 



All of these cooperative efforts serve to enhance the United 

 States' understanding of fusion-related issues. But none, accord- 

 ing to DOE officials, is critical to the continued progress of the 

 fusion R&D program. According to DOE officials, without these 

 projects, the U.S. program would still move forward, albeit with 

 perhaps a greater risk of setbacks because of the narrower scope 

 of research activity. 



In light of the increasing likelihood of future constrained 

 budgets, and the need for increasingly expensive fusion devices, 

 DOE decided in 1983 to examine its strategy for the future role of 

 international cooperation in the fusion area. Thus, DOE contrac- 

 ted in August 1983 with the National Academy of Sciences to 

 perform a study exploring several aspects of international 

 cooperation. The Academy, through its Committee on International 

 Cooperation in Magnetic Fusion, will 



— identify the most important issues in international 

 cooperation in magnetic fusion energy development; 



— review and discuss alternative courses of international 

 cooperation, such as joint construction projects; 



— review U.S. objectives for fusion energy development, and 

 compare them with European and Japanese objectives to 

 identify similarities and differences; and 



— identify the long-term implications of alternative courses 

 of international cooperation, and how they affect U.S. 

 fusion development objectives. 



The Academy expects to issue its report in October 1984. 



