International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility
Stored: International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility
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International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) is a collaborative international project to develop an accelerator-driven neutron source for testing materials under fusion-like conditions, producing a high-intensity fast neutron flux using a deuterium-lithium reaction to simulate the harsh environment of future fusion reactors like DEMO. Initiated in 1994 by Japan, the EU, the U.S., and Russia under the International Energy Agency, IFMIF has evolved since 2007 through the Japan-EU Broader Approach Agreement’s IFMIF/EVEDA phase, with its DONES variant beginning construction in Granada, Spain, in 2023, aiming to deliver critical data for fusion material durability.
Mission
IFMIF’s mission is to create a fusion-relevant neutron source capable of testing materials at damage rates up to 50 displacements per atom (dpa) per year, providing essential data on structural degradation for safe fusion reactor design and operation. It focuses on validating materials like EUROFER steel for DEMO, advancing fusion energy by bridging the gap between theoretical material resilience and real-world neutron exposure, through its EVEDA phase and the planned DONES facility.
Parent organization
IFMIF is supported by the Department of Energy, which contributed to its early phases and remains a stakeholder via Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, though current efforts are primarily driven by Japan and the EU. The International Energy Agency serves as the top organization, historically overseeing its multinational framework.
Legislation
IFMIF was not established by specific legislation but began in 1994 under an IEA-managed international research agreement, with its current phase formalized by the 2007 Japan-EU Broader Approach Agreement, focusing on engineering validation and design activities (EVEDA).
Partners
IFMIF’s key partners include:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (historical U.S. lead)
- Japanese Atomic Energy Agency (current co-lead)
- Fusion for Energy (EU co-lead)
- Department of Energy (initial partner)
- Other EU and Japanese research bodies (e.g., ENEA, KIT)
Number of employees
IFMIF does not have a fixed employee count as it’s a project in development; it engages hundreds of researchers and engineers across its partners, with EVEDA involving over 100 contributors from Japan and the EU.
Organization structure
IFMIF operates through collaborative systems:
- Accelerator Facility Team develops the deuteron beam system.
- Lithium Target Team designs the neutron-producing Li flow.
- Test Facility Team manages irradiation modules.
Leader
IFMIF is led by a Project Leader, currently Juan Knaster (as of recent updates), overseeing EVEDA and DONES efforts from Japan and Spain.
Divisions
The efforts include:
- LIPAc Development for accelerator prototyping.
- Test Module Design for material irradiation.
- Post-Irradiation Analysis for specimen characterization.
List of programs
Key IFMIF initiatives include:
- IFMIF/EVEDA Project - https://www.ifmif.org/
- Linear IFMIF Prototype Accelerator (LIPAc)
- IFMIF-DONES Construction Phase
Last total enacted budget
IFMIF’s full construction cost is estimated at $1.2 billion (2023 projections for DONES), with EVEDA funded at over €700 million since 2007 by Japan and the EU; exact annual budgets vary by phase and contributions.
Staff
Staffing involves over 100 scientists, engineers, and technicians from Berkeley Lab, JAEA, and EU institutes like KIT and ENEA, with no standalone IFMIF headcount as it’s project-based.
Funding
IFMIF’s funding includes over €700 million for EVEDA (2007-2025) from Japan and the EU, with DONES construction adding €500M+ from EU sources and Spain, totaling an estimated $1.2B, historically supported by DOE and IEA contributions.
Services provided
IFMIF provides high-flux neutron irradiation testing, materials qualification up to 50 dpa/year, and post-irradiation examination, delivering data critical for fusion reactor material selection and design.
Regulations overseen
IFMIF does not oversee regulations but aims to meet international nuclear facility standards, supporting fusion reactor licensing data needs.
Headquarters address
1 Cyclotron Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA (Berkeley Lab, historical U.S. base)
History
IFMIF began in 1994 as an IEA-led collaboration among Japan, the EU, U.S., and Russia, transitioning in 2007 to the Japan-EU Broader Approach’s IFMIF/EVEDA phase, validating key systems like the Lithium Test Loop and LIPAc by 2016. The DONES variant started construction in Granada, Spain, in March 2023, targeting operational status by 2033 to support DEMO and future fusion power plants.
External links
- Official Website
- wikipedia:International_Fusion_Materials_Irradiation_Facility
- Fusion for Energy IFMIF-DONES
- DOE Innovation Hubs