Collected Comments from Outside the US

Makoto Katsurai
University of Tokyo, Japan

If the selection of the type of DT burning machine, from ITER, FIRE and IGNITOR, is made by the comparison of the total DT burning time "per dollar" on the consideration that the amount of physical data obtainable may roughly be proportional to the total burning time, I believe ITER will be selected. ITER will be provided with a total DT burning time of roughly 100 times longer than that of FIRE and IGNITOR. It is because the neutron damage of FIRE and IGNITOR magnets, particularly the damage of their insulators, makes the total burning time so short. Therefore, even if the cost of ITER is 5 times higher, the total TD burning time "per dollar" of ITER is longer than that of FIRE and IGNITOR by a factor of roughly 20. I believe ITER might be judged to be a very good bargain if this kind of ecomomic evaluation would be made more synthetically and comprehensively by including the variety and quality of data that will be obtainable from each machine.

Malcolm Rawlingson
Ontario Power Generation, Canada

The direction of US fusion research has a profound impact on the quality of life on this planet. The issue is at a critical crossroads and I believe that the fundamantal decision the US must make is either to continue with a National Program or rejoin ITER.

As has been pointed out on your website already the number of fusion plant engineers and scientists is diminishing not just in the US - but worldwide.  What is urgently needed is a project that will provide the catalyst for renewed interest in fusion research - especially among those young minds who have the capability to solve the significant problems that still lie ahead.

The US although not a current participant has a large financial and intellectual investment in ITER. While not the ideal machine in some quarters it does present the world with a vehicle to get to the next and final stage of a commercial power plant demonstration.