FS&T issue provides an overview of the physics research program carried out at JET since the beginning of its exploitation in 1983, covering the periods of JET operation under JET Joint Undertaking and JET-EFDA phases. There are two introductory chapters: one from Prof. D. Palumbo (Honorary General Director Research, EURATOM) describing the events leading to the decision to build JET and one from the former JET Joint Undertaking directors summarizing the main achievements of the JET Joint Undertaking. The remaining chapters are organized to review more recent EFDA-JET results, including high-performance (H-mode) operation, advanced tokamak scenarios, burning plasma physics, plasma boundary and scrape-off layer physics, disruption studies, performance limiting MHD stability, physics studies with the additional (radio-frequency and neutral beam) heating systems, core transport studies, and present/future planned experiments. Some of JET's state-of-the-art plasma diagnostics capabilities were covered in a recent FS&T special issue, "Plasma Diagnostics for Magnetic Fusion Research," FS&T, Vol. 53, No. 2, February 2008.

Dr. Claude Gormezano is the guest editor for the issue and preface is written by Dr. Francesco Romanelli. Writing in the preface, Romanelli notes "I would like to draw the reader's attention to the special role that JET will have during the ITER construction phase. JET is the device closest to ITER parameters and, until the upgrade of JT60-U into JT60-SA is completed, it will be the largest tokamak of its class in operation. Therefore, it would be the ideal machine where scientists who will collaborate on ITER could start working together to develop a common strategy on ITER scenarios....... It is my goal to further open JET to the participation of all ITER Parties."

FS&T has been working with international tokamak groups to contribute to series of special issues to recognize and highlight the science and technology contributions to a next-step burning plasma device (ITER). The JET issue is the eighth in this series. The other tokamak issues published before include Alcator C-Mod, ASDEX-U, DIII-D, FTU, JFT-2M, JT60-U, and TEXTOR.

For further information on access to JET or other tokamak special issues, contact Nermin Uckan (uckanna@ornl.gov) or visit the FS&T journal site at http://www.ans.org/pubs/journals/fst/