IAEA Technical Meeting on Plasma Physics and Technology Aspects of the Tritium Fuel Cycle for Fusion Energy

It is expected that first generation fusion power plants will use a mixture of two heavy isotopes of hydrogen — deuterium and tritium (DT) — as fuel, which then fuse to produce helium and neutrons. Inside the reactor, additional tritium will be ‘bred’ or created from the reaction of the neutrons with a lithium blanket covering the inner side of the reactor vessel. However, several uncertainties remain regarding the physics and technology of the DT fuel cycle in ITER and demonstration fusion power plants. The event aims to review and discuss – in an integrated manner – plasma physics and technology aspects of the tritium fuel cycle in magnetic fusion reactors, from ITER to demonstration fusion power plants.