The case of energy fusion

Fusion is an energy source that is as promising as it is hard to control on Earth. The most advanced solution today is based on the use of intense magnetic fields, in the tokamak configuration. It aims to confine a plasma of deuterium and tritium heated to some 150 million degrees. ITER is the world's most ambitious energy project and aims to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion as a source of energy. The challenges of magnetic confinement fusion are: controlling the fusion plasma, evacuating heat and particles, and finding materials to sustain continuous irradiation with 14 MeV neutron. The validation and qualification of such materials will be carried out in a dedicated irradiation facility capable of generating an intense neutron flux of 14 MeV (IFMIF project). Despite private initiatives have been set up in recent years in America, several decades will no doubt be needed before we can benefit from fusion electricity. (A.C.)