Claessens M. ITER. The Giant Fusion Reactor. Bringing a Sun to Earth 2ed 2023

Textbook in PDF format

This book provides for the first time an insider’s view into ITER, the biggest fusion reactor in the world, which is currently being constructed in southern France. Now in its second edition, it updates readers on all developments at ITER and those at competing fusion initiatives worldwide, at the National Ignition Facility (US), the Joint European Torus (EU) and the tens of start-ups funded by private ventures. The author also shares his personal experience with this unique big science project.Aimed at bringing the “energy of the stars” to earth, ITER is funded by the major economic powers (China, the EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the USA). Often presented as a “nuclear but green” energy source, fusion could play an important role in the future electricity supply. But as delays accumulate and budgets continue to grow, ITER is currently a star partially obscured by clouds.Will ITER save humanity by providing a clean, safe and limitless source of energy, or is it merely a political showcase of cutting-edge technology? Is ITER merely an ambitious research project and partly a PR initiative driven by some politically connected scientists? In any case, ITER has already helped spur on rival projects in the USA, Canada and the UK. This book offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at this controversial project, which France snatched from Japan, and introduces them to a world of superlatives: with the largest magnets in the world, the biggest cryogenic plant and tremendous computing power, ITER is one of the most fascinating, and most international, scientific and technological endeavours of our time.
The Future of Energy
What is Nuclear Fusion?
A Brief History of ITER
Why in France?
Building a Gigantic Machine
A Machine Manufactured in Thirty-Five Countries
Those Who Are Against ITER
Why So Many Delays and Cost Overruns?
How to Manage Such a Complex Programme?
Is ITER Really Safe and Clean?
ITER is Heating up the French Economy
Will Fusion Become Commercial?
Chinese Citizens in Provence
How to Communicate with the Public About a High-Tech Project?
Quest for Holy Grail of Fusion
Beyond Technology Diplomacy
More Technical Challenges
The Dark Side of Political Technology
Fusion, Science and PR