EUROfusion contributions to ITER nuclear operation

ITER is of key importance in the European fusion roadmap as it aims to prove the scientific and
technological feasibility of fusion as a future energy source. The EUROfusion consortium of
labs within Europe is contributing to the preparation of ITER scientific exploitation and
operation and aspires to exploit ITER outcomes in view of DEMO. The paper provides an
overview of the major progress obtained recently, carried out in the frame of the new (initiated
in 2021) EUROfusion work-package called ‘Preparation of ITER Operation’ (PrIO). The
overview paper is directly supported by the eleven EUROfusion PrIO contributions given at the
29th Fusion Energy Conference (16–21 October 2023) London, UK [www.iaea.org/events/
fec2023]. The paper covers the following topics: (i) development and validation of tools in
support to ITER operation (plasma breakdown/burn-through with evolving plasma volume, new
infra-red synthetic diagnostic for off-line analysis and wall monitoring using Artificial
Intelligence techniques, synthetic diagnostics development, development and exploitation of
multi-machine databases); (ii) R&D for the radio-frequency ITER neutral beam sources leading
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to long duration of negative deuterium/hydrogen ions current extraction at ELISE and
participation in the neutral beam test facility with progress on the ITER source SPIDER, and,
the commissioning of the 1 MV high voltage accelerator (MITICA) with lessons learned for
ITER; (iii) validation of neutronic tools for ITER nuclear operation following the second JET
deuterium–tritium experimental campaigns carried out in 2021 and in 2023 (neutron streaming
and shutdown dose rate calculation, water activation and activated corrosion products with
advanced fluid dynamic simulation; irradiation of several materials under 14.1 MeV neutron
flux etc).