Preliminary estimate of the cost breakdown for the Fusion Ignition Experiment IGNITEX

A preliminary estimate of the cost breakdown for the Fusion Ignition Experiment (IGNITEX) is presented. The IGNITEX concept proposed by M.N. Rosenbluth, W.F. Weldon, and H.H. Woodson (1987) is based on B. Coppi's idea for a compact thermonuclear experiment and has the potential to produce and control ignited plasmas at a relatively low cost ($130M). The bases for the cost savings in the basic construction of the experiment are the inexpensive magnet and power-supply technologies to be used in fabricating the proposed 20-T single-turn coil tokamak and the simplicity of design. The cost evaluation given is consistent with the degree of the development of the IGNITEX experiment, which to date has been carried out to the conceptual design level.<>