National Institute for Fusion Science

NIFS Top » Greeting from Director-General of NIFS

Prof. Osamu MOTOJIMA
Director-General of NIFS,
Deputy Director-General of NINS

Main objective of the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) is to produce a new form of energy source that is safe as well as environmentally friendly; in other words, our goal is to replicate what is happening inside the sun on the ground by our hands.

   Maintaining a current standard of living indicates the necessity of securing a sufficient amount of energy source that will be the basis of our technology-driven society. Fossil fuels such as petroleum or natural gas will not last forever. Yet, the development of electric power generation by wind or solar power as major alternatives to current energy sources has not drastically progressed so far. Also in the area of nuclear power generation, the problem regarding a high-level nuclear waste disposal still remains unsolved. Under such circumstances, the highest priority is placed on a quick development of an energy source described above; that is, safe and environmentally friendly.
   NIFS carries out a fundamental study to achieve successful power generation by nuclear fusion that utilizes deuterium in the seawater as an energy source. The nuclear fusion has been naturally occurring in the sun for approximately 5 billion years. The institute then intends to develop a new source of energy with high-level safety and controllability by using the principle of the said fusion reaction. Currently, institutions around the world are working on this type of study, competing each other on the actualization of new energy source.
    In order to perform power generation by nuclear fusion in safety, a thorough research becomes necessary on plasmas of 100 million degC (=1.8000 x10⁸ degF) which is 15 million degC (=2.7000 x10⁷ degF) higher than the solar core temperature. Ever since its establishment in 1988, the National Institute for Fusion Science has long been leading the research, achieving remarkable outcome. NIFS already succeeded in fulfilling various conditions required for nuclear fusion such as generation of high-temperature of 100 million degC, density of over 100 trillions/cm³, 4.1% beta value which is a plasma pressure ratio to the magnetic field, and so on. NIFS has actively made its effort to complete nuclear fusion plasmas and put them into practice. Two major axes in the research are: 1) physical research regarding generation and confinement of high-temperature, high-density plasmas with the use of a superconducting Large Helical Device that has an original heliotron magnetic field, and 2) a study of simulation science that utilizes a super-computer in order to challenge a broad spectrum of plasma physics.
    NIFS systematizes plasma physics and develops technologies that enable the system. In so doing, an integration of academic knowledge and technologies will be inevitable. The institute collaborates with various academic institutions. Taking the advantage of this unique characteristics, NIFS has conducted a wide range of studies and researches in cooperation with university professors or engineers from other affiliate institutions. The National Institute for Fusion Science will continue to promote coordinated research projects with both national and international institutions and play its roll as COE (Center Of Excellence) in fusion science that offers postgraduate education. In order to do so, NIFS needs to always keep its current constitution as a research organization. This year, the institute refurbished the organization of its experimental groups so that more and more young researchers will have broader chances to pursue their study.
     On April 1st, 2004, NIFS founded "Inter-University Research Institute, National Institutes of Natural Sciences" with National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Institute of Molecular Science, National Institute for Basic Biology, and National Institute for Physiological Science. A demand for the 21st century science is now stronger than ever in order to solve diverse problems that we, humans, came to face as we extended our area of activities. As natural scientists, we are expected to approach each problem with high awareness, contributing our knowledge to the construction of prosperous, perpetual life for mankind. National Institutes of Natural Sciences were established in association with the Inter-University Research Institute that is responsible for a wide range of scientific studies. The goal of NINS is to make efforts to develop a new field of study that will contribute to the society as well as to contribute to the social development.
      Development of nuclear fusion energy has long been told a dream-like prospect. However, the technology keeps improving, and at the turn of the century, the dream is shifting toward a definite goal. That is, we are now at the stage where a concrete schedule can be made with accuracy. Your support and understanding are truly appreciated in our continuing nuclear fusion researches to generate environmentally friendly energy.

Yours truly,

Osamu Motojima