ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ

The 6th ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ International School was held in Ahmedabad, India from 2-6 December on the topic of radio frequency heating and current drive. The ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ International School, held annually since 2007, aims to prepare young researchers to tackle the challenges of magnetic fusion devices and to spread the global knowledge required for a timely and competent exploitation of the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ physics potential.

Contributing about 55 percent of the auxiliary power in ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ's Baseline scenario, radio frequency heating and current drive will play a critical role in achieving ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ performance goals. Initially 20 MW of ion cyclotron and 20 MW of electron cyclotron radio frequency power will be installed in ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ; this may be upgraded to double Baseline values in later phases with addition of a further lower hybrid current drive system.

The School was sponsored and hosted jointly by the  and the Institute for Plasma Research, . In addition to approximately 40 participants from India, there were 37 participants from around the world representing the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ partners, but also Brazil, Thailand, the Ukraine and Nepal. Many PhD students and young researchers were present, and instructors from ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ partner countries delivered a total of 20 lectures during the five days of the program. Participants also presented posters on their work.

David Campbell, director of ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ's Plasma Operation Directorate, gave the inaugural presentation, stressing the important role played by the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ International School in building up the manpower that will be crucial for the operation of ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ over several decades.