Developing a Robust Compact Tokamak Reactor by Exploiting New Superconducting Technologies and the Synergistic Effects of High Field

1) Adequate fusion power areal density (Pf / Ablanket ≥ 4 MW m ) and 2) High fusion (Q>25) and electrical (Qe~5) gain. However, observing that even a simple burning plasma experiment ITER (R~6.2 m, Q=10, P / A <1MW m , Qe=0), which clearly underperforms as a fusion reactor, will cost ~25B$ strongly motivates us to decrease as much as possible the linear size (R) and therefore the cost (~R) of prototype reactors and Fusion Nuclear Science Facilities. Robustly non-disruptive scenarios are also necessary because the plasma thermal pressure (pth), which determines the fusion power density (∝ pth 2 ), will be pth ~1MPa in all reactor designs [1], i.e. a factor of 4-5 larger than in ITER where damage from disruptions/instabilities seems already unacceptable.