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The US Department of
Energy announced on July 13 that the U.S. project office for ITER,
a major international fusion experiment, will be established at
the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in Princeton, NJ,
in partnership with DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in
Oak Ridge, TN. The office will be responsible for delivering in-kind
contributions to the ITER Organization and arranging for U.S. persons
to serve as members of the international ITER Organization's Central
Team; in performing these activities, the Office will involve the
U.S. fusion community. PPPL, in partnership with DOE's Oak Ridge
National Laboratory and (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, TN will be responsible
for overseeing the project office. and providing the staff and facilities.
The news release can be read in its entirety at DOE's Office of
Science web site: http://www.science.doe.gov.
ITER is an ambitious international project with its goal being to
demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion
energy. It is expected to be constructed between 2006 and 2013 at
a cost of approximately $5B (in FY 02 $). Its mission includes addressing
the principal remaining physics uncertainties in the development
of fusion as a source of energy:-- the understanding, control, and
predictability of burning plasma. In addition, it will address the
associated technologies required such as large superconducting magnets,
diagnostic systems, plasma control tools, and high heat flux materials.
Presently the ITER parties are negotiating on the selection of the
site for ITER. The sites under consideration have been narrowed
to Rokkasho, Japan and Cadarache, France. Additional details of
the ITER device are given in the June 2004 NPSS Newsletter in Charles
Neumeyer's article "What's Happening in Fusion" and also
at ITER's web site: http://www.iter.org.
The responsibilities of the U.S. ITER Project Office include procuring
and shipping the U.S. hardware contributions, include securing technical
assistance participation from the U.S. fusion community; procuring
and shipping the U.S. hardware contributions; arranging for U.S.
personnel to work abroad at the ITER site; representing the U.S.
with the international ITER organization on construction and preparation
for ITER operations; and coordinating and integrating the U.S. fusion
community's ITER project activities with the international ITER
project. PPPL's Ned Sauthoff, who was also past 2001 President of
IEEE-USA and NPSS's liaison to the IEEE-USA Energy Policy Committee,
(1988-2002) was named as the project manager. ORNL's Carl Strawbridge
was named as the Planning Control Manager. While discussing the
office, Sauthoff stated: "Our team is thrilled to be selected
to serve. ITER is important not only because of its fusion science
and technology, but also for the new paths it will blaze for international
collaborations. ITER's success will demand coordination of project
activities by six nations or groups of nations, who together will
provide components for the assembly and operation of the world's
first magnetic fusion burning plasma experiment."
Article provided by Philip Heitzenroeder, chair of the NPSS Fusion
TC. Phil can be reached at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory,
P.O. Box 451, Princeton, NJ 08543-0451; Phone +1 609 243-3043; E-mail:
pheitzen@pppl.gov
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