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On November 23rd, 2001, in a ceremony presided by
Prof. José Mariano Gago, Minister of Science and Technology,
accompanied by the European Commissioner for Research, Mr. P. Busquin,
the contract between the “Fundação da Ciência
e Tecnologia” and “Centro Fusão Nuclear”, that concedes
to this Research Unity of “Instituto Superior Técnico” together
with “Centro Física de Plasmas ” the statute of Associate
Laboratory, foreseen in the Decree-Law nr 125/99 of April 20th, was
signed.
This Laboratory as two Thematic lines of Action:
Controlled Nuclear Fusion
This Research
Line is included in the Contract of Association between the European
Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and “Instituto Superior
Técnico” (IST), in the frame of the Community Fusion Programme.
The Nuclear Fusion activities are related with the operation of magnetic
and inertial confinement plasma devices, the physics studies for the
understanding of the plasma behaviour, the diagnostics, the control
and data acquisition systems, the technologies needed for the construction
of a fusion power plant and the social-economic, safety and environmental
aspects of the fusion energy. The experimental programmes have
been carried out in facilities located in Portugal (Tokamak ISTTOK
and L2I Laser) and abroad (JET, ASDEX-Upgrade, MAST, TCV, TJ-II and
ITER).
Plasma Technologies and Intense
Lasers
This Research Line includes several applications of
the plasma state, such as, gaseous electronics, material and surface
processing, waste treatment, plasma and laser propulsion for space
exploration, particle and reactive species sources, ultra-short and
ultra-high-power lasers in the Tera-Watt power domain, second generation
of plasma accelerators, and tuneable sources of radiation from the
infrared to to the X-UV.
On November 14 th of 2001, “Centro
de Fusão Nuclear” and “Centro Física Plasmas” signed
a Protocol to regulate the participation of both Research Units of IST
in the Associate Laboratory in the areas of Nuclear Fusion and Plasma
technologies.
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Associate
Laboratory