1 OV / 3 - 3 Investigation of Steady - State Tokamak Issues by Long Pulse Experiments on Tore Supra

The main results of the Tore Supra experimental programme in the years 2007-2008 are reported. They document significant progress achieved in the domain of steady-state tokamak research, as well as in more general issues relevant for ITER and for fusion physics research. Three areas are covered: ITER relevant technology developments and tests in a real machine environment, tokamak operational issues for high power and long pulses, and fusion plasma physics. Results presented in this paper include: test and validation of a new, load-resilient concept of ICRH antenna and of an inspection robot operated under ultra-high vacuum and high temperature conditions; an extensive experimental campaign (5 h of plasma) aiming at deuterium inventory and carbon migration studies; real-time control of sawteeth by ECCD in the presence of fast ion tails; ECRHassisted plasma startup studies; dimensionless scalings of transport and turbulence; transport experiments using active pertubation methods; resistive and fast-particle driven MHD studies. The potential role of Tore Supra in the worldwide fusion programme before the start of ITER operation is also discussed.