PROGRESS IN THE LHD (LARGE HELICAL DEVICE) PROGRAM

The progress of the experimental LHD program, the largest superconduct ing helical device in the world, is described. The LHD device, which i s now under construction, will start experimentation in 1998 to study the confinement of high-temperature plasmas relevant for thermonuclear fusion conditions and will develop the physics and technology of stea dy-state operation. Experimental research on the LHD also contributes to physics understanding of toroidal plasmas by the study of high-temp erature plasmas confined in the externally defined magnetic structure. New research directions for advanced helical systems are also discuss ed.