A workshop on the Theory of Magnetic Confinement for Fusion was held on 22 September 2008 at Balliol College, Oxford.

The workshop was held in commemoration of Professor L.C. Woods, with the aim of stimulating new ideas and independent thought on the topic of magnetic confinement of plasmas for fusion. This was in keeping with Les Woods approach to the topic; as a fiercely independent applied mathematician he challenged much of the modelling of fusion plasmas, and although often resisted he pursued and stimulated many new ideas and approaches.

The workshop, of more than 50 participants, was held as the fusion research community is making its next major step towards the goal of energy generation from nuclear fusion. ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is some three times larger than its predecessor JET (Joint European Torus), and its 40-hectare site at Cadarache in France is currently being levelled for construction work to proceed. The ITER project faces significant experimental and theoretical challenges, and it was towards the latter that the workshop was directed.

The workshop was supported by the following:

• Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (OCIAM)
• The Culham Science Centre, UKAEA
• Balliol College, Oxford
• Oxford University Press
• Institute of Physics (Plasma Physics group)
• Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston
• Knowledge Transfer Network for Industrial Mathematics

The Workshop was comprised of presentations from leading speakers in the fusion research community, followed by plenary discussions to identify and prioritise the main mathematical modelling challenges.

The presentations explained the theoretical models that have been developed, and those that are being employed at present, for example in the design of ITER. The key features were expounded with the purpose of stimulating new insights into the modelling and associated mathematical and numerical challenges. The talks were as follows:

• Per Helander (Max Planck Institute, Griefswald, Germany) - "Magnetic fields and transport in 3D plasma configurations"
• Bruno Coppi (MIT) - "Open Issues in the Physics of Significant Fusion Burning Plasmas"
• Steve Cowley (UCLA and Imperial College London)- "Turbulence and Transport in Fusion Experiments"
• Wayne Houlberg (ITER) - "ITER: The Challenges of Modelling the Dynamics of Non-linear, Predominantly Self-Driven Plasmas"

A wide range of modelling challenges in the theory of magnetic confinement of plasmas for fusion arose from the presentations and discussions at the workshop. The plenary session identified six thematic areas for cross-disciplinary activity in mathematical modelling. However, the most urgent need was for a better understanding of transport barriers, and it was suggested that there be convened a conference on the mathematics of internal transport barriers in magnetically confined plasmas, as an initial step to boost collaborative activity in mathematical modelling in support of the ITER project, and as an important and apt outcome of this workshop being held in commemoration of Les Woods.

Notes from the workshop may be downloaded by following the link below. For further information regarding follow-on from the workshop, you are invited to contact:

Prof John Allen
Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
24-29 St.Giles'
Oxford
OX1 3LB
Phone: (+44 1865) 2 80619
Fax: (+44 1865) 2 70515
Email: john.allen@eng.ox.ac.uk