Status of research and development of tokamak nuclear fusion technology

This report describes the current status of research and development of tokamak nuclear fusion technology. Since a tokamak was introduced as a nuclear fusion device in 1950s, many scientists have devoted themselves to make it a feasible reactor. For a tokamak reactor, it is necessary to establish the technology of both plasma control and nuclear reactor. Currently-attained levels of those two areas of technology are discussed : (a) Plasma control technology (Successfully-controlled parameters such as total plasma current, position, shapes, and plasma density, and controllability of the other distributed quantities). (b) Nuclear reactor technology (Superconducting magnets, tritium process, reactor structural materials, and a negative-ion source). Basic program of fusion research and development in Japan, and the international cooperation programs for fusion research are also presented. Finally, a way to conduct the fusion research and development is proposed. (author)