FUSION YEARBOOK. Association Euratom-Tekes. Annual Report 2009

This Annual Report summarises the fusion research activities of the Finnish and Estonian Research Units of the Association Euratom-Tekes in 2009. The Estonian Research Unit was established by the Agreement between Tekes and the University of Tartu in 2007. The emphasis of the new EFDA is in exploiting JET and co-ordinating physics research in the Associations. In addition, emerging technology and goal oriented training activities are under EFDA. The activities of the Research Unit are divided in the fusion physics under the Contract of Association and EFDA. New R&D Grant work on remote handling for ITER divertor maintenance launched by the Joint Undertaking "Fusion for Energy" started in 2008 and is running to 2010. The Physics Programme is carried out at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Aalto University School of Science and Technology, University of Helsinki (UH) and University of Tartu (Estonia). The research areas of the Physics and EFDA Programme are: * Heat and particle transport, MHD physics and plasma edge phenomena * Plasma-wall interactions and material transport in SOL region * Code development and diagnostics. Association Euratom-Tekes participated actively in the EFDA JET Workprogramme 2009 and exploitation of JET facilities in experimental campaigns C20-C27. Three persons were seconded to the CCFE operating team, two physicists in codes & modelling and one engineer in remote handling. In addition, Tekes Association participated in the 2009 experimental programme of ASDEX Upgrade (AUG). The Technology work is carried out at VTT, Aalto University School of Science and Technology, Tampere University of Technology (TUT) and Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) in close collaboration with Finnish industry. Industrial participation is co-ordinated by Tekes. The technology research and development is focused on the remote handling, vessel/in-vessel materials and components plus some activities in physics integration and JET Technology: * Divertor Test Platform (DTP2) at VTT in Tampere for remote handling of divertor maintenance and development of water hydraulic tools and manipulators * Development of advanced welding methods and IWR cutting/welding robot * Application of powder HIP method for fabrication of ITER vessel/in-vessel components * Plasma facing materials issues, erosion/re-deposition and material transport studies and developing coating techniques * In-reactor mechanical testing and characterisation of materials under neutron irradiation * Modelling of ripple losses and wall loadings for ITER * Upgrading of the JET NPA diagnostics * Feasibility study for micromechanical magnetometers. A major PI/PR occasion was the inauguration of the ITER divertor test platform DTP2 at VTT in Tampere, 29 January 2009