FPN17-15
Academy Fusion Review Getting Started
April 25, 2017
The National Academy (NAS) fusion review
(see FPN17-07) was authorized
by the US Department of Energy in the Fall of 2016.
A committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine is being formed to study the state and potential of magnetic
confinement-based fusion research in the United States and provide
guidance on a long-term strategy for the field. The study will focus on
research that supports understanding the magnetically confined burning
plasma state but will take a broad view beyond plasma confinement
science, and as such consider capabilities such as simulation and
materials. Specifically, the committee will prepare an interim report
that will:
- Describe and assess the current status of U.S. research that supports
burning plasma science, including current and planned participation in
international activities, and describe international research activities
broadly.
- Assess the importance of U.S. burning plasma research to the development
of fusion energy as well as to plasma science and other science and
engineering disciplines.
The committee will also prepare a final report, building on the interim
report, which will:
- Consider the scientific and engineering challenges and opportunities
associated with advancing magnetic confinement fusion as an energy
source, including the scientific and technical developments since the
2004 NAS study on burning plasma research.
- In two separate scenarios in which, after 2018, (1) the United States is
a partner in ITER, and (2) the United States is not a partner in ITER:
provide guidance on a long-term strategic plan (covering the next
several decades) for a national program of burning plasma science and
technology research which includes supporting capabilities and which may
include participation in international activities, given the U.S.
strategic interest in realizing economical fusion energy in the long
term.
In doing the above, the committee will consider the priorities for the
next ten years developed by the community and FES that were recently
reported to Congress. The committee will also consider the current level
of participation by U.S. scientists in international activities as well
as what role international collaboration should play over the next 20
years. The committee will also consider the health of the domestic
fusion research sectors (universities, national laboratories, and
industry). Elements of any strategic plan for U.S. burning plasma
research should ensure that the United States maintains a leadership
role in this field. The committee may assume that economical fusion
energy within the next several decades is a U.S. strategic interest. The
committee may take into account how unanticipated events or innovations
may necessitate mid-course re-directions. The committee will use the
prior work of the Academies as well as that of FESAC and the domestic
and foreign communities in its deliberations. The committee is not to
compare fusion as an energy source against other current or potential
energy sources. The committee will consider the budget implications of
its guidance but will not make recommendations about the budget for
burning plasma research itself. The committee will only consider
magnetically confined burning plasma research as within its purview. The
committee may make recommendations or offer comments on organizational
structure and program balance, with accompanying supporting discussion
of the evidentiary bases, as appropriate.
The NAS is required by law to post the names of proposed committee
members "provisionally" for a 20 day public comment period before they
are formally appointed. The names and short bios of the proposed
co-chairs were posted April 25. They are Prof. Michael Mauel (Columbia
U.) and Prof Melvyn Shochet ( U.Chicago). Additional committee members
names and bios will be posted as they become known. The web site for
viewing and commenting on the proposed committee members is:
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/CommitteeView.aspx?key=49872
The main web site for the review is:
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/BPA/BPA_177107