Foreword

Recognizing the prominent role that nuclear energy plays in the world, and based on the expectation that nuclear fusion will be able to provide an abundant source of energy, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supports the exchange of scientific and technical information on fusion research through conferences, meetings and projects. The 21st IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2006) provided a forum for presenting and discussing the progress in fusion experiments, theory and technological developments. The progress in the establishment of Iter since the last Fusion Energy Conference has put more emphasis on the physics and technology R&D aspects in the realization of fusion as a clean and lasting energy source.

The 21st International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Fusion Energy Conference (FEC) was held in Chengdu, China, from 16 to 21 October 2006. The conference was organized in cooperation with the Southwestern Institute of Physics, Chengdu, China. The IAEA wishes to express its gratitude to the host. The Conference was attended by 708 participants from 39 countries and 3 international organizations. The Programme Committee selected a total of 478 papers distributed over 21 overview talks, 87 regular talks (including 23 rapporteured papers, 3 post-deadline talks), 362 regular posters, 3 overview posters and 5 post-deadline posters. In addition, two fusion pioneer memorial lectures, five summary lectures and two ITER evening lectures were given.

The scientific experimental and theoretical papers have been grouped with respect to the following themes: Overview on Magnetic and Inertial Fusion; Advanced Scenarios; ITER; Fluctuations; Transport Theory; Plasma-wall Interaction; Fusion Technology; NTM/Disruptions; 3D Effects on Transport; Energetic Particles; New Machines; MHD Stability; Particle and Energy Transport; ELMs; and ITER Systems.

For the first time the International Atomic Energy Agency has awarded an annual prize to honor exceptional work published in the journal Nuclear Fusion.

The next IAEA Fusion Energy Conference will be in 2008. It will commemorate 50 years since the 2nd UN Conference on the Peaceful Applications of Nuclear Energy which was held in 1958 at the United Nations premises in Geneva. The conference is expected to be held Information will be available through this link link.

Acknowledgments are conveyed to the Programme Committee under the chairmanship of Prof. K. Lackner. The IAEA officers responsible for the Conference and these proceedings were G. Mank and A. Malaquias, Division of Physical and Chemical Science.