The experiment will implement the Ignitor tokamak design, originally proposed by MIT Professor Bruno Coppi, which has been under development in Italy for several years. It is based on decades of research on high field tokamaks in the Alcator series of experiments at MIT and in the Frascati Tokamak program in Italy.

The experiment, which is planned for operation prior to ITER operation, will allow Russian and Italian scientist to study tokamak physics during the approach to fusion ignition, to help optimize plans for ITER operation, and to prepare the scientists in both countries to more effectively participate in ITER operations.

The U.S. had a similar experiment called the Compact Ignition Tokamak (CIT) under construction in the late 1980s, but the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) canceled the project in 1989. U.S scientists also later advocated the construction of a similar experiment called FIRE, but were unable to secure funding from the DOE for its construction.

The Ignitor device would have high field copper magnets (about 13 Tesla), and pulse lengths of several seconds. The major radius of the device would likely be about 1.3 meters. It would be heated by ICRH radiofrequency power (about 18 MW).

For further information, contact Prof. Coppi at coppi@mit.edu
For information on FIRE or to view the April 26 news story in TASS, visit http://fire.pppl.gov