IPP Projects

ITER Cooperation



In the ITER project the world's major fusion programmes – those of Europe, Japan, the USA, the Russian Federation, China, South Korea, and India – are jointly planning a first experimental reactor. ITER (latin "the way") is intended to show that it is physically and technically possible to gain energy from nuclear fusion. Its objective is to produce a burning, energy-yielding plasma for the first time. Furthermore, it is to be used for developing and testing essential technical functions of a fusion reactor. These include superconducting magnetic field coils, tritium technology, exhaust of the thermal energy generated, and development of remotely replaceable components; the safety and environmental aspects of fusion will also be treated.

Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) is contributing to the preparation of ITER through the research programme being conducted on its ASDEX Upgrade fusion device. IPP scientists are also maintaining close contact with the ITER group in all physics-oriented questions and are treating special problems for ITER in numerous contract studies. From 1988 till relocation of the scientists to the Cadarache site IPP hosted the European ITER group at Garching.


ITER layout