A part of this report was introduced in the November 2023 issue of our periodical, “Yano E plus.”

– The Dream Energy of Providing the “Sun” on the Earth, an Untrodden Goal; Expected to be a Technology that Solves Energy and Environmental Issues Simultaneously and Fundamentally –

1. What is Nuclear Fusion?

2. Types of Nuclear Fusion

    2-1. Magnetic Confinement Fusion / Tokamak

    2-2. Magnetic Confinement Fusion / Helical

    2-3. Laser

3. Domestic and International Trends

    3-1. ITER Project

    3-2. Overseas

    3-3. Japan

4. Market Size of Nuclear Fusion Technology

5. What Public Research Institutes Do

    5-1. Osaka University

1) “Laser Fusion Energy Development Project” of the Institute of Laser Engineering (ILE)

2) Current Status of Laser Fusion Reactor Core Plasma Research

3) Significance of Demonstration of Laser Fusion Ignition Combustion by the National Ignition Facility (NIF)

4) Japanese Technology Leading the World toward a New Era of Laser Fusion

5) Integration of Japanese Fundamental and Innovative Technologies that can be Realized with Laser Fusion

6) Ripple Effects of Laser Fusion Research

i. Large-Scale Resource Exploration and Cultural Assets and Environment Research

ii. New Materials Produced by 1-to-10-million Atmospheric Pressure

iii. Interdisciplinary Field Opened up by Two Types of Neutron Sources Using High-Repetition-Rate Power Lasers

    5-2. National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS)

1) New Efforts by NIFS: System of “Units”

2) Industry-Academia Collaboration Example 1: Exploring New Physical Phenomenon by Improving the Performance of Measuring Devices and Implementing Them in Society by Using the Extreme Technology

i. Operation Principle of High-Repetition-Rate Laser Devices

ii. Radial Temperature Distribution of Laser Rods

iii. Time Variation of Temperature Inside Rod

3) Industry-Academia Collaboration Example 2: Optical Isolator

    5-3. Kyushu University

1) Steady-State Plasma Control Engineering Laboratory / Hanada Laboratory (Professor Kazuaki Hanada)

2) Advanced Plasma Science and Engineering Laboratory (Professor Hiroshi Idei)

3) Fusion Plasma Physics and Control Engineering Laboratory (Professor Takeshi Ido)

    5-4. Kyoto University

1) Overview of Fusion Research at Kyoto University

2) “Heliotron J” Device

3) Examples of Recent Research Outcome (Kyoto University Press Release)

    5-5. University of Tsukuba

1) GAMMA 10/PDX

2) Pilot GAMMA PDX-SC

    5-6. University of Tokyo

1) Magnetic Confinement and Tokamak Configuration

2) Heating and Current Drive Using Wave Motion

    5-7. National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)

1) JT-60SA Project

2) ITER Project

3) Prototype Reactor

6. What Private Companies Do

    6-1. Kabushiki Kaisha EX-Fusion

1) EX-Fusion Aiming to Realize a Commercial Laser Fusion Reactor

2) Outstanding Performance of Semiconductor-Pumped High-Power Pulsed Lasers

3) Technology of Hitting a Target with High-Power Lasers Farther and More Precisely

4) “Aiming for a Realizing Commercial Laser Fusion Reactor” Will Lead to the Creation of a New Optical Industry

    6-2. Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.

1) Vision and Mission of Kyoto Fusioneering

i. Vision

ii. Mission

2) Technology of Kyoto Fusioneering

i. Plant Engineering Technology

ii. Reactor Core Element Technology

3) Construction of the World’s First Fusion Energy Power Generation Test Plant

    6-3. Helical Fusion Co., Ltd.

1) Nuclear Fusion Technology of Helical Fusion

2) Overview of Business Plan

7. Future Prospects