LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE TOKAMAK ADVANCED REACTOR INNOVATION AND EVALUATION STUDY (ARIES)

Lessons from the four-year ARIES (Advanced Reactor Innovation and Eval uation Study) investigation of a number of commercial magnetic-fusion- energy (MFE) power-plant embodiments of the tokamak are summarized. Th ese lessons apply to physics, engineering and technology, and environm ental, safety, and health (ES&H) characteristics of projected tokamak power plants. A general conclusion from this extensive investigation o f the commercial potential of tokamak power plants is the need for com bined, symbiotic advances relative to present understanding in physics , engineering, and materials before economic competitiveness with deve loping advanced energy sources can be realized. Advanced tokamak plasm as configured in the second-stability regime that achieve both high be ta and bootstrap fractions near unity through strong profile control o ffer high promise in this regard.