Fusion Yearbook. Association Euratom-Tekes. Annual Report 2005

This report summarises the results of the Tekes FUSION technology programme and the fusion research activities by the Association Euratom-Tekes in 2005. The research areas are fusion physics and 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 turbulent transport and modelling of radio-frequency heating experiments. The work covered the real time control of transport barriers in JET plasmas, predictive integrated modelling of tokamak plasmas. Plasma-wall studies included coating technologies for plasma facing components and material transport in the edge plasmas supported by surface analysis of the JET divertor and limiter tiles. Two projects on diagnostics started in 2005. The work in fusion technology for the EFDA Technology Programme and ITER is strongly focused into vessel/in-vessel materials and remote handling studies. The main activity was to prepare hosting of the ITER divertor test platform (DTP2) at VTT. Other remote maintenance systems include water hydraulic manipulators for the ITER divertor maintenance as well as prototyping of intersector welding and cutting robot. Virtual modelling is an essential element in the remote handling engineering. A second domain of fusion technology covers research and characterisation of first wall materials, mechanical testing of reactor materials under neutron irradiation, studies of joining and welding methods, characterisation of irradiated CuCrZr/SS joints. Some effort was also devoted to new stainless steels, IFMIF-design, fusion neutronics and socio-economic studies. Several EFDA technology tasks and contracts were successfully completed in 2005.