The IRFM (Institut de Recherche sur la Fusion par Confinement Magnétique – Institute for Research into Fusion by Magnetic Confinement) is an institute of the CEA’s Fundamental Research Division. Based at the Cadarache Centre in the south of France, it employs around 250 people working on a new energy source: fusion by magnetic confinement.
The IRFM’s activities are structured around 3 areas of research and development:
- contribute to the realisation of the ITER project
- prepare the scientific operation of ITER, through experimentation, theory and modelling
- lay the foundations for the future fusion machine
These activities are closely linked to a special effort to train future generations of fusion physicists and technologists.
The IRFM has a number of R&D and test platforms at its disposal, including the WEST tokamak (transformation of Tore Supra into a test bench for ITER, WEST stands for ‘Tungsten (W) Environment in Steady-state Tokamak’).
The IRFM is made up of three departments, each with its own specific features:
- The Fusion Plasma Physics Department, mainly composed of physicists and focused on plasma physics studies.
- The Tokamak Operation and Piloting Department, made up mainly of engineers and technicians, is in charge of the IRFM’s infrastructure (including the tokamak).
- The Internals and Projects Engineering Department, which brings together the skills required for all plasma-related components (first wall, divertor, heating antennae, etc.). He is also responsible for the IRFM’s engineering and project management support activities.
Each department has around 100 staff and is divided into several groups, structured according to areas of activity.
