ITER: an integrated approach to ignited plasmas

The programmatic objective of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) calls for it to demonstrate controlled ignition and extended burn of deuterium-tritium plasmas, to demonstrate essential fusion reactor technologies in an integrated system, and to perform integrated testing of high-heat flux and nuclear components. The ITER design, as embodied in the Final Design Report, and its physics ba sis are presented and the projections of plasma performance are summarized together with the assessment of ITER's engineering feasibility and of the p rogress in validating technology R&D. The future prospects for ITER and its potential central role as an integrat ed physics and engineering experiment in the overall development of control led fusion as a source of useful energy are discussed.