Fusion research in Jülich has long been characterized by close cooperation
with the fusion laboratories of the neighbouring states in the three-frontier
region Belgium - the Netherlands - Germany. Thus, the Belgian plasma physicists
from the "Ecole Royale Militaire/Koninklijke Militaire School" (ERM/KMS)
in Brussels have been decisively involved in TEXTOR activities for more than
ten years now. The Dutch plasma physicists from the "FOM-Instituut voor
Plasmafysica" in Nieuwegein near Utrecht have steadily intensified their
collaborative activities in Jülich in the past few years.
On 31 May 1996, the three partner institutes, ERM/KMS, FOM and Research Centre Jülich, signed an agreement on the creation of the "Trilateral Euregio Cluster" (TEC) in the presence of government representatives from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany and representatives of the European Commission. Within the framework of the TEC, the three closely adjacent research partners are joining forces and resources at the European level. In this context, the TEXTOR tokamak in Jülich is the only and central large research device for the three research laboratories in the three-frontier region.
Each partner contributes its expertise here. The Netherlanders have scientific competence in the study of transport processes and turbulent processes in the plasma core. They contribute a new experiment for the local heating of the fusion matter by intense microwave radiation. The Belgians' special field is the heating of the plasma by high-frequency energy in the short-wave range and the physics of plasma confinement by magnetic fields. The Jülich researchers have found worldwide recognition by the study of the physics and technology of plasma-wall interaction.
The total expertise combined in the TEC provides a unique constellation for a comprehensive scientific programme devoted, in particular, to unclarified questions within the framework of the planned important international large-scale projects ITER ("International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor") and "Wendelstein 7-X". The TEC agreement secures the Jülich site for fusion and plasma research at least up to the year 2006.
The TEC is connected with the universities of the Euregio by very close cooperation. Diploma candidates and PhD students from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and from many other nations are working on a common goal at TEXTOR: energy from fusion.
last change 20.05.2003 | Ralph P. Schorn | Print