UK Fusion Programme 2008-2010

核聚变是宇宙的主要能源；这一过程为太阳和恒星提供了能量。如果能在地球上经济地加以利用，在化石燃料变得越来越昂贵之际，它有可能成为确保安全、对环境负责的能源供应所需的一系列措施的重要组成部分。法国正在建设的国际托卡马克实验反应堆（ITER）项目的启动反映了人们对这一潜力的日益认识，这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，当两个轻原子的原子核在极高的温度下融合在一起，产生一个更大的原子的原子核时，会释放出大量的能量。在地球上实现这些条件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。UKAEA位于牛津郡的Culham科学中心是世界上领先的核聚变研究中心之一，并以两种方式为核聚变研究做出贡献：(i)通过英国自己的项目专注于球形托卡马克实验MAST，以及（ii）通过为欧洲联合环面（JET）项目做出贡献。国际合作的重点是国际托卡马克实验反应堆（ITER）。欧洲原子能机构为包括英国在内的欧洲所有国家项目提供部分资金。在MAST和JET托卡马克上进行的实验项目有助于解决和完善对ITER关键物理问题的理解。此外，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备，支持实验计划，并为聚变材料的研究和发展以及概念聚变电站的研究做出贡献。英国领导了两个ITER专家（诊断和加热）系统的研究和开发，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中提出。与其他科学和技术领域的研究人员的合作受到强烈的追求，在这些领域的研究与聚变研发重叠，并且越来越多的大学里有与UKAEA合作的聚变研究人员。工程和物理科学研究委员会（EPSRC）和欧盟委员会提供资金，为英国聚变项目提供建议和监督（一些欧洲资金/用于ITER系统的工作-现在通过巴塞罗那的新聚变能源机构进行）。聚变咨询委员会（FAB）为EPSRC和UKAEA就Culham聚变研究的项目和长期战略提供建议；FAB收到来自MAST项目咨询委员会的报告，该委员会是ITER和工业界的一个小组，以及每年的英国聚变材料论坛。

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.