Georgia Tech

Fusion Research Center

Nuclear & Radiological Engineering

RESEARCH

IN THE FUSION RESEARCH CENTER

COLLABORATION WITH LEADING FUSION RESEARCH LABORATORIES world-wide has enabled students to interact with outstanding fusion researchers and to be involved in leading-edge research on plasma rotation at TFTR (Princeton Plasma Physics), on protective thin surface films at Argonne National Lab, on density limits at TEXTOR (Forchungszentrum Julich), on ion cyclotron heating , microwave reflectometry, and studies of fast ion behavior at ATF (Oak Ridge National Lab), in studies of edge thermal instabilities at DIII-D (General Atomics), and in other studies at other laboratories.

The FRC is a member of the National Team for the DIII-D National Tokamak Facility, which provides for an active faculty, staff and student participation in research on this world-class facility. Students also take advantage of internship opportunities at TEXTOR and other facilities.

The FRC has long been active in the CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF FUTURE FUSION REACTORS AND FUSION NEUTRON SOURCES. Professor Stacey led the international INTOR conceptual design and R&D definition which evolved into the ITER PROJECT now under construction in France by an international consortium involving Europe, Japan, Russia, India, China, Korea and the USA. FRC faculty, staff and students participated in the physics design of the plasma power exhaust system for ITER and in conceptual design studies for the FIRE burning plasma experiment. At present, the FRC has responsibility for evaluating the requirements for a fusion neutron source, based on ITER physics and technology, that could be built following ITER operation for the purpose of driving a sub-critical reactor for the transmutation of spent nuclear fuel, which is being carried out in an ongoing series of student design projects and theses.