• 2 September 2008:

50th anniversary of starting international cooperation on fusion research

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Second UN International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy where leading countries of fusion research from both sides of the iron curtain unveiled their results opening the way for international collaborations.

As a part of the conference, on September 2 a session was held called "Possibility of controlled fusion". Leaders of the fusion research of the UK, the USA the Soviet Union and the Federal Republic of Germany gave speeches on their programme.
The conference had a significant impact on fusion research since it opened the way to international cooperation under the normal scientific exchange of information.

Lev Artsimovich, leader of the Soviet programme stressed the importance of this new joint international effort : "We must not underestimate the difficulties which will have to overcome before we learn to master thermonuclear fusion", he said. "A most important factor in ensuring success in these investigations is the continuation and further development of the international cooperation initiated by our conference. The solution [...] will require a maximum concentration of intellectual effort and the mobilization of very appreciable material facilities and complex apparatus."