France is actively involved in the European fusion programme, which aims to develop fusion energy as the electricity source of the future. It is also committed to the ITER project (the world’s largest fusion machine, currently under construction on the Cadarache site, just outside the CEA). These commitments define the IRFM’s orientations.
With the transformation of the Tore Supra superconducting tokamak into WEST, the IRFM is focusing in particular on the management of heat and particle flows in tokamaks producing ‘continuous’ plasmas. This line of research covers all the scientific and technical aspects: from theory, simulation and experimentation, to the operation of the tokamak, including the diagnostics required for the study, the associated technologies and their integration.
The IRFM coordinates :
- all the CEA’s activities on fusion by magnetic confinement,
- contracts with the European domestic agency Fusion For Energy (F4E), or directly with the ITER Organization.
- all the French actions carried out within the EUROFUSION Consortium, in place since 2014, within the framework of the EURATOM Treaty.
The IRFM also works closely with the public research laboratories of the Magnetic Confinement Fusion Research Federation (FR-FCM), including in particular the laboratories of the University of Aix-Marseille under the banner of the AMIDEX Initiative of Excellence, are privileged and are the subject of a shared strategy.
The IRFM’s priorities are to contribute, in its areas of excellence, to advances in fusion research, the most emblematic aspect of which is now ITER. The Institute is therefore focusing its research in specific areas where its contribution can be recognised and used on a European and global scale.
These areas can be summarised under four headings :
Studies linked to heat extraction: studies of the physics of the plasma interacting with the walls of the machine, plasma-facing components (PFCs), development of experimental scenarios for extracting heat and particle flows in an optimal way while ensuring the integrity of the PFCs.
Studies on the operational limits of the tokamak: development of optimised plasma scenarios for the production of fusion reactions respecting the limits of plasma stability, and in particular the study of key elements for ITER physics, namely plasma instabilities at the periphery (known as ELMs).
The development of fusion technologies associated with the main problem of managing heat and particle flows, including CFP monitoring diagnostics for ITER, and associated with the problem of tritium in materials in a tokamak environment.
Making the most of key technologies developed by the IRFM, such as cryomagnetism and radiofrequency plasma heating.