Burning Plasma

Significant advances have been made in fusion science, and a point has been reachedwhen we need to decide if the United States is ready to begin a burning plasmaexperiment. A burning plasma—in which at least 50 percent of the energy to drivethe fusion reaction is generated internally—is an essential step to reach the goal offusion power generation. The Burning Plasma Assessment Committee was formed toprovide advice on this decision. The committee concluded that there is high confidencein the readiness to proceed with the burning plasma step. The InternationalThermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), with the United States as a significantpartner, was the best choice. Once a commitment to ITER is made, fulfilling it shouldbecome the highest priority of the U.S. fusion research program. A funding trajectoryis required that both captures the benefits of joining ITER and retains a strong scientificfocus on the long-range goals of the program. Addition of the ITER project willrequire that the content, scope, and level of U.S. fusion activity be defined by programbalancing through a priority-setting process initiated by the Office of FusionEnergy Science.