The role of EFDA

One of the main objectives of EFDA is to coordinate research in Europe in preparation for the operation and exploitation of ITER.

The scientific and technical activities of EFDA among others address the following ITER related issues:

• Development of plasma scenarios for ITER
• Preparing for burning plasma experiments on ITER
• Developing relevant and coherent set of plasma control methods applicable on ITER
• Developing ITER relevant diagnostic techniques
• Progressing the basic scientific and technical knowledge of plasma wall interactions in support of a safe operation of ITER
• Assessing from the scientific point of view the various options of plasma facing materials for the second phase of ITER operation
• Theoretical plasma physics and modelling of ITER plasmas
• Further development of diagnostics, heating systems, control, data acquisition and data processing techniques which are not in the present design of ITER but can be installed later if they are sufficiently mature

EFDA is responsible for the programme of JET, the largest tokamak in the world having the closest parameters to ITER and the only device that can use tritium and beryllium. It therefore plays a central role in supporting the ITER project, among others by the following features:

• JET is equipped with an ITER-like ICRH antenna;
• An ITER-like wall will be installed in JET in 2009-2010;
• JET's plasma is the closest to that of ITER among the operating tokamaks, therefore plasma scenario development can be fulfilled with physics parameters close to ITER;
• The parameters of JET make it possible to advance the understanding of ITER relevant physics issues;
• Due to its size, JET is the best suited facility to study the confinement of fast alpha particles, allowing the preparation for burning plasma physics;
• Various plasma control techniques can be developed on JET that can find application on ITER;
• Due to JET's unique tritium handling capability, further developing and gaining experience with tritium-related technologies is possible;
• Diagnostic techniques that are relevant for ITER and ITER scenario qualification can be developed;
• Its comprehensive Remote Handling Facility extends experience of in-vessel remote handling techniques

Further improvements of the JET device to address urgent ITER issues might also be considered.

Beside these issues JET as well as other major ITER-relevant fusion devices in Europe can play a key role in training future international Task Forces, physicists and session leaders in preparation of ITER operation.