Nuclear Fusion Technology

Nuclear fusion is a physical process in which the nuclei of heavy hydrogen atoms (deuterium, tritium) are united by fusion to become an atomic nucleus of helium while releasing large amounts of energy. The energy emitted by the Sun is generated by nuclear fusion. In nuclear fusion research, reproduction of that process in a technical scale device, the fusion reactor, at high temperatures, is attempted. In this review a short outline is given of the national, European and worldwide technology programmes initiated during the last decade. The contributions which the Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Centre makes to these programmes on the basis of experience accumulated over several decades are described. The cooperation of specialists from various disciplines in the two central activities of magnet technology and the nuclear part of the fusion reactor, the so called blanket, is described more fully. In conclusion, the most important milestones on the way to the commercial fusion reactor are indicated, and the critical problems faced in development of the technology are pointed out.