@BOOK{NAP10816, author = "National Research Council", title = "Burning Plasma: Bringing a Star to Earth", isbn = "978-0-309-09082-7", doi = "10.17226/10816", abstract = "Significant advances have been made in fusion science, and a point has been reached\nwhen we need to decide if the United States is ready to begin a burning plasma\nexperiment. A burning plasma\u2014in which at least 50 percent of the energy to drive\nthe fusion reaction is generated internally\u2014is an essential step to reach the goal of\nfusion power generation. The Burning Plasma Assessment Committee was formed to\nprovide advice on this decision. The committee concluded that there is high confidence\nin the readiness to proceed with the burning plasma step. The International\nThermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), with the United States as a significant\npartner, was the best choice. Once a commitment to ITER is made, fulfilling it should\nbecome the highest priority of the U.S. fusion research program. A funding trajectory\nis required that both captures the benefits of joining ITER and retains a strong scientific\nfocus on the long-range goals of the program. Addition of the ITER project will\nrequire that the content, scope, and level of U.S. fusion activity be defined by program\nbalancing through a priority-setting process initiated by the Office of Fusion\nEnergy Science.\n\n", url = "https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10816/burning-plasma-bringing-a-star-to-earth", year = 2004, publisher = "The National Academies Press", address = "Washington, DC" }