U.S.S.R. Eyes Role in U.S. Compact Tokamak Ignition Experiment

Abstract

Physicists working on nuclear fusion in the Soviet Union want to participate in America's next experiment, the Compact Ignition Tokamak (CIT). Soviet scientists first mentioned the idea to Department of Energy (DOE) officials last spring but have not put forth any formal proposal. Department officials, however, say the Soviets are serious about working with the US on the project. From the outset, however, efforts to work more closely with the Soviets on fusion research have been stifled by concerns within the Administration that sensitive Western technology will be transferred to the Soviet Union's military establishment. The key to Soviet participation in CIT may depend on what they can contribute materially, as well as intellectually to the US project. Soviet scientists are currently defining how their country might contribute to the CIT, and they could submit a proposal to the US within a year. Indeed, the technology transfer issue has made DOE and State Department officials reluctant to discuss the possibility of the Soviet Union taking a role in the CIT. They fear that the concept will be rejected on ideological grounds before the merits of a Soviet proposal can be considered.