https://doi.org/10.1140/epjh/e2018-90054-2
The large tokamak JT-60: a history of the fight to achieve the Japanese fusion research mission
1
National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology,
Naka, Japan
2
ILE, Osaka University,
Osaka, Japan
3
Southwestern Institute of Physics,
Chengdu, P.R. China
a e-mail: kikuchi.mitsuru@qst.go.jp
Received:
3
October
2018
Published online: 23 November 2018
Fusion research was driven by the oil shocks in 1970’s and the concern about climate change during 20th century. This paper addressed the scientific research history of JT-60, the tokamak that achieved record fusion performances and opened the way toward the continuous operation of a tokamak fusion reactor through its scientific discoveries. The paper also highlighted technical struggles to improve machine capabilities and to solve technical issues faced during the JT-60 project. The missions of JT-60 were to achieve equivalent energy break-even (Q = PDTequi. / Pheat ≥ 1) and to establish a scientific basis for fusion reactor. The JT-60 made several modifications to reach equivalent break-even condition and continued efforts were made by the JT-60 team to solve critical technical issues during 23 years of research operation. Scientific success of JT-60 led to current ITER projects and the modification of JT-60 to a superconducting tokamak, JT-60SA. This paper is intended to be useful for the future researchers and managers of large-scale project by giving dynamical evolutions and highlighting key players. I dedicate this paper to Hiroshi Kishimoto, who made an outstanding contribution in managing the JT-60 research project.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature, 2018