The second annual Progress Meeting of the IRFM/ASIPP collaboration, chaired by Yuntao Song and Jérôme Bucalossi, was successfully held on October 13 in Chengdu on the sidelines of the IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (IAEA-FEC).
The meeting brought together around 40 participants, including 15 IRFM experts who were present on site. It provided an opportunity to review the progress of six ongoing research projects, including:
- the extension of METIS for the exploration of D-3He and p-11B plasma scenarios with a view to future fusion power plants;
- design studies for the ICRH and LHCD systems for BEST;
- the mechanical design of the TWA antenna project in WEST;
- the performance evaluation of the W/Cu components of the BEST divertor;
- the review of the joint experimental program in EAST and WEST in preparation for BEST.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to confirm the launch of new joint activities, including:
- integrated modeling and deployment of IMAS;
- testing HTS samples and developing a thermal and thermo-hydraulic model for simulating a BEST central solenoid module;
- R&D studies on diagnostics for burning plasmas;
- setting up a joint team for the operation and optimization of EAST and WEST ECRH systems.
A year rich in exchanges is ahead, which will consolidate the already well-established cooperation between the two laboratories.