Toroidal Alternates Panel Meeting at DFW Airport

The TAP will be meeting at the Wyndam Hotel (Lindbergh II conference room) from June 30-July 2 (Monday-Wednesday) to hear from selected representatives from the stellarator, spherical torus, field-reversed configuration, and compact torus researchers. A block of rooms has been reserved under the name FESAC Panel on Alternate Confinement Concepts. Room rates are $109+tax per night. Please note the June 18th cutoff date.

Our main goal for the first two days is to understand as best we can the goals, issues, priorities, and gaps for each of the four concepts, taking advantage of the opportunity to discuss with concept experts and advocates present. We expect to handle this somewhat like PAC or review committees, where the panel interacts primarily with the speaker(s) and the audience listens in and participates as appropriate when called on (e.g., "Perhaps Prof. X in the back is better able to answer that question for you..."). The concept working groups on the panel will be working with the community to select the speakers. We have asked that the total scheduled presentation time in each two hour session be limited to 1 hour (40 slides) to provide time for discussion.

We have made available a public comment page on the tap website that makes it possible for anybody to submit short documents advising us on scientific issues, program goals and priorities, and other issues as seem relevant.

NEW: We have added one hour to the agenda on Monday and Tuesday to provide opportunity for public input. Since time is limited, we are asking those who wish to speak to be concise with their comments (target 5min, no more than 2 vg). It would be most helpful to the panel for speakers to focus on the key elements of the charge (ITER-era goals, issues, priorities, facilities and gaps, or broader scientific benefit) or on the panel process, while avoiding the well-known general motivational comments on concepts. Potential speakers are encouraged to view the public input and panel working group questions posted here under the Community Input link to avoid redundancy. To facilitate planning and to increase the effectiveness of this time slot, we are requesting that potential speakers contact the Panel Chair prior to the meeting to make arrangements.

We intend the public meetings to be open to all, so that everybody can hear the interactive sessions. We scheduled both the ST and stellarator sessions on the same day to facilitate travel by PPPL staff as needed.

The meeting room will have seats behind the panel seating for guests, like at FESAC meetings. (we have made arrangements for about 45-50 people).

David Hill for the Toroidal Alternates Panel
June 13, 2008