Electromagnetic computations for fusion devices

The author first discusses magnetostatic effects in fusion devices, particularly those involving magnetic materials or temperature-dependent electrical conductivity. He then examines eddy-current effects resulting from a plasma disruption, and finally eddy-current computations for the vacuum vessel of a reversed-field pinch device, an alternative concept to the tokamak. It is concluded that three recent developments are very encouraging for applying electromagnetic computation to fusion reactors: (1) The work of several groups doing coupled plasma/eddy current computations; (2) the ITER project, which requires European, Japanese, American, and Soviet groups to attack the same eddy-current computation; and (3) the in-house comparison of TRIFOU, CARIDDI, and other codes at Ispra.<>