Facilities
Facilities glossary term

DIII-D National Fusion Facility

Anchors US mainstream magnetic fusion energy and advanced tokamak confinement research.

Facilities Also: DIII-D National Fusion Facility, diii-d-national-fusion-facility, DIII-D, DIII-D Tokamak, Doublet III-D Has Dossier → 0 sources

01 Definition

A flagship US magnetic confinement tokamak operated by General Atomics in San Diego, CA, funded by the Department of Energy.

02 Detailed_Analysis

The DIII-D National Fusion Facility is a major magnetic confinement fusion research device operated by General Atomics for the US Department of Energy. It focuses on advanced tokamak operating modes, plasma-material boundary interactions, high-beta stability limits, and divertor physics to inform the design and operation of ITER.

03 Key_Facts

  • ▸ Operated by General Atomics in San Diego, California
  • ▸ Funded by the Department of Energy Office of Fusion Energy Sciences
  • ▸ Focuses on advanced tokamak operating scenarios and plasma stability
  • ▸ Provides foundational empirical data for the international ITER program

04 Deep_Dive_Intelligence

Overview

DIII-D is a major magnetic-confinement tokamak operated by General Atomics in San Diego, CA, funded by the DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences. It is a flagship US magnetic-confinement fusion facility studying advanced tokamak scenarios, plasma stability, and divertor physics. The 1998 five-year plan documents its role in the broader US fusion portfolio alongside the compact-toroid/FRC track.

Entity Type: Experiment — DIII-D Tokamak is a scientific experiment or test program.

Research Findings

DIII-D Tokamak appears in 10 research analysis documents:

AMSC HTS Superconductor Analysis 2024:

Findings: AMSC HTS Superconductor Analysis 2024

Source PDF: [AMSC_HTS_Superconductor_Analysis_2024.pdf](/archive/AMSC_HTS_Superconductor_Analysis_2024) Date range: 2015-2024 Source org: LANL

Summary

This Technology Watch Report provides a comprehensive technical analysis of American Superconductor Corporation’s (AMSC) second-g...

ARPA-E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019:

Findings: ARPA E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019

Source PDF: [ARPA-E_ALPHA_Fusion_Retrospective_2019.pdf](/archive/ARPA_E_ALPHA_Fusion_Retrospective_2019) Date range: 1956-2019 Source org: LANL

Summary

Produced by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E and Booz Allen Hamilton, this 2019 retrospective reviews th...

Christofilos Astron Fusion 2011:

Findings: Christofilos Astron Fusion 2011

Source PDF: [Christofilos_Astron_Fusion_2011.pdf](/archive/Christofilos_Astron_Fusion_2011) Date range: 1955-2011 Source org: LANL

Summary

Published in 2011 by researchers affiliated with Princeton University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, this review article chroni...

Dr Edward Thomas Jr FRC Fusion Analysis 2024:

Findings: Dr Edward Thomas Jr FRC Fusion Analysis 2024

Source PDF: [Dr_Edward_Thomas_Jr_FRC_Fusion_Analysis_2024.pdf](/archive/Dr_Edward_Thomas_Jr_FRC_Fusion_Analysis_2024) Date range: 1998-2025 Source org: LANL

Summary

This 2024 intelligence report profiles Dr. Edward Thomas Jr. of Auburn University, analyzing how his expertise in e...

FESAC Compact Toroids FRC 2007:

Findings: FESAC Compact Toroids FRC 2007

Source PDF: [FESAC_Compact_Toroids_FRC_2007.pdf](/archive/FESAC_Compact_Toroids_FRC_2007) Date range: 1977-2008 Source org: PPPL

Summary

This technical report, likely prepared for a fusion energy advisory committee around 2007, outlines the strategic goals and scientific challeng...

Source Documents

Intelligence derived from 1 source documents:

  • GeneralAtomics DIII-D FiveYearPlan 1998

06 Related_Terms (3)

ITER Tokamak Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

07 Related_Entities (12)

Jupiter Technologies
Organisation Organizations
Tokamak Energy STEP Contract
Program Programs
Tokamak Energy LIBRTI Programme
Program Programs
Tokamak Energy DARPA PUMP Contract
Program Programs
TE Magnetics
Organisation Organizations
RFX-mod2 (Reversed Field eXperiment)
Facility Experiments
ETE Spherical Tokamak
Facility Experiments
INPE Associated Plasma Laboratory (LAP)
Organisation Organizations
FIRST (Formosa Integrated Research Spherical Tokamak)
Facility Experiments
NCKU Department of Space and Plasma Sciences
Organisation Organizations
Magnum-PSI
Facility Experiments
EPFL Swiss Plasma Center
Organisation Organizations

08 Timeline_Mentions (10)

1958

Project Sherwood declassified at Geneva Conference

Fusion research declassified at 2nd Atoms for Peace conference. Sherwood becomes CTR program.

historical-context
1979

PPPL Compact Toruses Symposium

PPPL symposium consolidating compact toroid (FRC/spheromak) research.

fusion-research
1979

US-Japan Joint Symposium on Compact Toruses

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) hosted a collaborative symposium focusing on Spheromaks, FRCs, and relativistic-beam injection, marking a convergence of US and Japanese fusion programs.

fusion-physics
1982

Ninth IAEA Conference on Plasma Physics

The Ninth International Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research is held in Baltimore, Maryland, focusing on Tokamak experiments and plasma heating.

fusion-physics
1990-12-01

Avramenko publishes erosion-discharge autonomous plasmoids (ZhTF)

Avramenko et al. report self-confined autonomous plasmoids with ball-lightning-like properties created by erosion discharge in a dielectric-walled cylindrical channel (ZhTF 1990; translation Sov. Phys

Plasma Physics
1991

Cancellation of Terrestrial Alternate Confinement Programs

Alternate confinement programs for terrestrial fusion applications are cancelled, leaving a gap in non-tokamak research.

historical-context
1991

LLNL RACE Compact Toroid Acceleration

LLNL RACE program accelerates compact toroids in coaxial railgun. Fusion-oriented: ICF driver, x-ray generator, tokamak fueling. Inspired AFRL MARAUDER.

Fusion Physics
1993

MARAUDER (August 1993): USAF compact toroid weapon, 100 billion g acceleration, Shiva Star, went dark mid-1990s

USAF Phillips Lab compact toroid weapon. 100 billion g acceleration. 9.5 MJ Shiva Star. 'Not a fusion program' — weapons. Physics identical to FRC. Went dark mid-1990s. Lineage: SHIVA I → MARAUDER → F

uap-research
1993

DIII-D Five-Year Plan Initiation

General Atomics implemented the 1993 Five-Year DIII-D Plan, establishing the context for Advanced Tokamak research and facility improvements.

fusion-physics
1998

DIII-D Five-Year Program Plan (1999-2003)

General Atomics released a comprehensive plan for the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, focusing on Advanced Tokamak operating scenarios and paths to ITER.

fusion-physics
View Full Timeline →

09 FAQ

What is DIII-D National Fusion Facility? ▾
A flagship US magnetic confinement tokamak operated by General Atomics in San Diego, CA, funded by the Department of Energy.
Why does DIII-D National Fusion Facility matter? ▾
Anchors US mainstream magnetic fusion energy and advanced tokamak confinement research.
How does DIII-D National Fusion Facility relate to other concepts? ▾
DIII-D National Fusion Facility is closely related to ITER, Tokamak, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). These relationships are documented in the research glossary and cross-referenced with primary source documents.
When did DIII-D National Fusion Facility appear in the research timeline? ▾
DIII-D National Fusion Facility is referenced in 10 timeline events, including "Project Sherwood declassified at Geneva Conference" (1958). The timeline provides chronological context for the development and application of this concept.
Which entities are associated with DIII-D National Fusion Facility? ▾
12 entities are associated with DIII-D National Fusion Facility in the network graph, including Jupiter Technologies, Tokamak Energy STEP Contract, Tokamak Energy LIBRTI Programme. Explore the network graph for full relationship mapping.
Is there a detailed dossier for DIII-D National Fusion Facility? ▾
Yes, DIII-D National Fusion Facility has a comprehensive intelligence dossier with deep dive analysis, source documents, and network connections. View the full dossier for complete intelligence assessment.

Quick_Facts

Category
Facilities
Aliases
DIII-D National Fusion Facility, diii-d-national-fusion-facility, DIII-D, DIII-D Tokamak, Doublet III-D
Sources
0
Related Terms
3
Graph Entities
12
Timeline Events
10

Intelligence_Dossier

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