FUSION Yearbook. Association Euratom-Tekes. Annual Report 2003

This report summarises the results of the Tekes FUSION technology programme and the fusion research activities by the Association Euratom-Tekes in 2003. The research areas are fusion physics, plasma engineering, fusion technology and a smaller effort to socio-economic studies. Fusion technology research is carried out in close collaboration with Finnish industry. The emphasis in fusion physics and plasma engineering is in theoretical and computational studies on transport, physics of radio-frequency heating and plasma edge phenomena related to European fusion experiments. Experimental work on plasma-wall interactions covers erosion, re-deposition and material transport studies in the edge region. A major part of the work is devoted to the EFDA JET Workprogramme in collaboration with other European Associations. The work in fusion technology for the EFDA Technology Programme and ITER is strongly focused into vessel/in-vessel materials covering research and characterisation of first wall materials, joining methods, manufacturing of multi-metal components and surface physics studies on plasma facing materials. A second domain of fusion technology consists of remote handling systems including water hydraulic tools and manipulators for the ITER divertor maintenance and prototyping of intersector welding and cutting robot. Virtual modelling is an essential element in the remote handling engineering. Several EFDA technology tasks were successfully completed in 2003.