UK Fusion Programme 2008-2010

核聚变是宇宙的主要能量来源;它是太阳和恒星的动力来源。如果能够在地球上经济地加以利用，它就有可能成为一系列必要措施的重要组成部分，以确保在化石燃料日益昂贵的时候，有一个安全、对环境负责的能源供应。国际托卡马克实验反应堆（ITER）项目的启动反映了这一潜力，该项目正在法国建造，将是第一个实现能量增益和持续燃烧的聚变装置。在聚变反应中，当两个轻原子的核在极高的温度下融合在一起，产生一个更大的原子核时，会释放出大量的能量。在地球上实现这些条件的最有希望的方法是使用托卡马克配置中的强磁场来控制和限制高温等离子体。英国原子能机构位于牛津郡的卡勒姆科学中心是世界领先的聚变研究中心之一，并在两个方面对聚变研究做出贡献：（一）通过联合王国自己的以球形托卡马克实验MAST为重点的方案，以及（二）通过对欧洲联合环方案作出贡献。以国际托卡马克实验反应堆（ITER）为重点的国际合作很强。欧洲原子能共同体为包括联合王国在内的欧洲所有国家方案提供部分资金，实施了关于MAST和JET托卡马克的实验方案，以帮助解决和加深对热核实验堆关键物理问题的理解。此外，关于MAST的实验方案侧重于测试球形托卡马克作为未来聚变装置的更紧凑选择的潜力。一个强大的理论和建模小组，利用并行和超级计算设施，支持实验方案，并促进聚变材料的研究和开发以及概念聚变发电站的研究。联合王国牵头研究和开发了热核实验堆的两个专业（诊断和加热）系统，并参与了其他几个大型复杂项目，研究结果在报告和出版物中以及在会议、专家组和专家委员会上作了介绍。与其他科学和技术领域的研究人员的合作也得到了大力推进，这些领域的研究与聚变研发重叠，越来越多的大学中的聚变研究人员与英国原子能机构合作。工程和物理科学研究理事会（EPSRC）和欧盟委员会基金，为联合王国的核聚变计划提供咨询和监督（欧洲对ITER系统工作的一些资助-现在通过巴塞罗那新的核聚变能源机构提供）。聚变咨询委员会（FAB）就该计划和卡勒姆聚变研究的长期战略向EPSRC和UKAEA提供咨询; FAB接收来自MAST计划咨询委员会、ITER和工业分组以及英国年度聚变材料论坛的报告。

Fusion is the main energy source of the universe; it is the process that powers the sun and the stars. If it can be harnessed economically on earth, it has the potential to be an important component of the portfolio of measures needed to ensure a secure, environmentally responsible, supply of energy, at a time when fossil fuels will be becoming increasingly expensive. There is increasing realisation of this potential as reflected by the launch of the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, being built in France, which will be the first fusion device to achieve energy gain and sustained burn.In a fusion reaction, large amounts of energy are released when the nuclei of two light atoms fuse together at extremely high temperatures to create a nucleus of a larger atom. In the most promising way to achieve these conditions on earth, strong magnetic fields in a tokamak configuration are used to control and confine the high temperature plasma.UKAEA's Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire is one of the world's leading fusion research centres, and contributes to fusion research in two ways: (i) through the UK's own programme focused on the spherical tokamak experiment MAST, and (ii) by contributing to the Joint European Torus (JET) programme. International co-operation is strong with the focus on the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER). EURATOM part-funds all national programmes in Europe including the UK's.Experimental programmes on the MAST and JET tokamaks are performed to help resolve and refine understanding of key physics issues for ITER. In addition, experimental programmes on MAST focus on testing the potential of the spherical tokamak as a more compact option for future fusion devices. A strong theory and modelling group, utilising parallel- and super-computing facilities, supports the experimental programmes and contributes to the research and development of fusion materials and to studies of conceptual fusion power stations. The UK leads the research and development of two ITER specialist (diagnostic and heating) systems, and participates in several others of these large complex projects.The results of the research are presented in reports and publications, and at conferences, expert groups and specialist committees. Collaborations with researchers in other areas of science and technology are pursued strongly, where the research overlaps with fusion R&D, and increasingly there are fusion researchers in universities with whom UKAEA works.The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the European Commission fund, provide advice and monitor the UK fusion programme (some of the European funding / for work on ITER systems - is now channelled through the new Fusion for Energy Agency in Barcelona). The Fusion Advisory Board (FAB) advises EPSRC and UKAEA on the programme and on the longer-term strategy for fusion research at Culham; FAB receives reports from the MAST Programme Advisory Committee, a sub-group on ITER and industry, and an annual UK Fusion Materials Forum.