History

History

  • 1973-

Basic research of mirror plasma in GAMMA 1, 2. 3. and 4, based on the research in the former Tokyo University of Education.

  • 1978

The world first tandem mirror GAMMA 6 was constructed and demonstrated the confinement improvement by the electric potential for the first time in the world.

  • 1979

Establishment of the Plasma Research Center for the Tandem Mirror Research.

  • 1980

Start of the construction of the world largest tandem mirror machine GAMMA 10.

  • 1983

The first plasma of the GAMMA 10. Demonstration of the thermal barrier and confinement improvement by the potential.

  • 1987-

The upgrade of the vacuum pump and heating systems for higher performance mirror plasma.

  • 2003

Start the new program for physics research of the plasma electric potential and field effects using upgraded ECH system, which is the first application of the high-power MW-level gyrotron system in mirror plasma.

  • 2004

Incorporation of the University. Start of the Bilateral Collaboration Research, which made significant progress of the research as the Joint research center open to nationwide universities.

  • 2005

“Academic exchange agreements on Plasma and Fusion Research” had been concluded between the University of Tsukuba and National Institutes of Natural Science, which makes possible the organized joint work between Plasma Research Center (PRC) and NIFS.

  • 2006

Start the joint project of CW-MW gyrotron development for LHD between PRC and NIFS.  1 MW gyrotron for GMMA 10 had been started in 2007 in collaboration with NIFS, JAEA and TETD. In 2009, 1.5 MW output had been obtained in LHD gyrotron and more than three MW was injected into LHD plasma.

  • 2010

Start of the second mid-term plan, where we challenge to study the boundary plasma by the divertor simulator experiment in addition to further development of gyrotron and the plasma electric potential and field physics.

  • 2016

In the starting period of third mid-term plan, we challenge to deepen the study of boundary plasma control and further development of MW-level gyrotron by taking advantage of the results obtained in the second mid-term. We also are aiming to develop a research plan for the divertor studies and making efforts toward the construction of new device.