Table of Contents

Foreword by Dennis G. Whyte ix
Foreword to French Edition by Gabriele Fioni xxi
1 A (Very) Brief History of Energy 1
2 The Saga of Nuclear Energy 25
3 Power from Fusion 41
4 Pioneers of Fusion 69
5 A Skillful Combination of Science and Technology 81
6 A Science of Compromise and Control 103
7 The Star-makers 135
8 ...and Then? 155
Glossary 169
Notes 179
Bibliography 183
Index 185

About the Author

Alain Becoulet is Head of Engineering for ITER, an international nuclear fusion research and engineering demonstration project in France. Previously, he was Director of the French Magnetic Fusion Research Institute.

Reviews

"The experimental nuclear fusion reactor ITER is probably the most expensive scientific experiment ever. Construction began in France in 2013; completion is scheduled for 2025. Alain Bécoulet, ITER’s head of engineering, captures some 60 years of research in “the somewhat mad enterprise of domesticating the energy of the stars”. Fusing one gram of hydrogen into helium makes as much energy as burning eight tonnes of petroleum. Despite many technical challenges, results convince Bécoulet that the star-makers will succeed."
—Nature