Progress in JT-60 innovative technologies

This review report provides the synthetic archives of innovative technologies in 20-year facility developments for the large tokamak experimental device JT-60, first founded as the major magnetic fusion device in the Second Basic Program for Fusion Research and Development of Japan. Manufacture of JT-60 was started in 1978, and the first plasma was achieved on April 8, 1985. In 1989-1991, the vacuum vessel and poloidal field coils were entirely reconfigured to improve the plasma performance. The major original mission of the JT-60 project, a breakeven condition for a D-T equivalent plasma, was finally attained in 1996. After this, JT-60, as a leading device for magnetic fusion research in the world, continues to challenge many experimental issues, which has been achieved by collaboration of innovative facility developments and experimental improvements. In addition, at this time to start the ITER construction phase in 2005, this review is expected to contribute the construction and operation activities for the next generation tokamak by providing the basic ideas in facility developments. We classified a tremendous number of development items into the selected sections for this review. Since the authors have been in charge of each development activity of their own, the contents are full of essential stories, points, and keywords in spite of its compact handbook size. We believe this review could provide highly sophisticated, informative ideas matured in JT-60 technological developments. (author)