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Tokamak foundation in USSR/Russia 1950–1990

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This historical review paper documents the foundation and development of tokamak research in the USSR and Russia from 1950 to 1990. It details early theoretical principles formulated by Tamm and Sakharov, key experimental milestones across successive tokamak devices (T-1 through T-15 and TUMAN series), and pivotal international collaborations that established the tokamak as the leading approach for magnetic confinement fusion leading up to ITER.
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Title and Abstract

IOP PUBLISHING and INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY NUCLEAR FUSION Nucl. Fusion 50 (2010) 014003 (8pp) doi:10.1088/0029-5515/50/1/014003 Tokamak foundation in USSR/Russia 1950–1990 V.P. Smirnov Nuclear Fusion Institute, RRC 'Kurchatov Institute', Moscow, Russia Received 8 June 2009, accepted for publication 26 November 2009 Published 30 December 2009 Online at stacks.iop.org/NF/50/014003 Abstract: In the USSR, nuclear fusion research began in 1950 with the work of I.E. Tamm, A.D. Sakharov and colleagues. They formulated the principles of magnetic confinement of high temperature plasmas, that would allow the development of a thermonuclear reactor. Following this, experimental research on plasma initiation and heating in toroidal systems began in 1951 at the Kurchatov Institute. From the very first devices with vessels made of glass, porcelain or metal with insulating inserts, work progressed to the operation of the first tokamak, T-1, in 1958. More machines followed and the first international collaboration in nuclear fusion, on the T-3 tokamak, established the tokamak as a promising option for magnetic confinement. Experiments continued and specialized machines were developed to test separately improvements to the tokamak concept needed for the production of energy. At the same time, research into plasma physics and tokamak theory was being undertaken which provides the basis for modern theoretical work. Since then, the tokamak concept has been refined by a world-wide effort and today we look forward to the successful operation of ITER. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

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This historical review paper documents the foundation and development of tokamak research in the USSR and Russia from 1950 to 1990. It details early theoretical principles formulated by Tamm and Sakharov, key experimental milestones across successive tokamak devices (T-1 through T-15 and TUMAN serie...