The JET project

The Joint European Torus, referred to as JET, is a proposed European nuclear fusion project that is intended to be the mainstay of the European fusion programme over the next decade. The project has been designed by a team of European scientists and engineers invited by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to work at its Culham Laboratory. The project is here reviewed under the following main headings - Introductions; Requirements for a self-sustaining plasma; Magnetic confinement systems; Tokamak systems; The JET design phase; Objective of the JET experiment; Choice of parameters; Apparatus required; Operating sequence; The experimental programme (exploratory studies, improvement of plasma performance and fusion studies); Experimental strategies; Additional heating required to reach reactor conditions; Operation under active conditions; operational flexibility; Plasma parameters; Project cost and construction staff; and Relation to other projects. It is concluded that the JET experimental programme will give a realistic assessment of the potential of the Tokamak system and will provide the design parameters for the next stage of development. (U.K.)