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What is the purpose of the ITER project in France?

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3D illustration of the interior reaction chamber of a tokamak fusion reactor, showing a large, cylindrical, metallic structure with curved walls and bright light panels. — fusion reactor A tokamak is a device used in nuclear-fusion research for magnetic confinement of plasma.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, currently under construction in southern France, is a collaborative international effort involving the European Union, the United States, China, India, Japan, Russia, and South Korea.12

The primary purpose of this multibillion-dollar project is to prove the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a large-scale, sustainable source of energy. To achieve this, the facility will house the world’s largest tokamak, which will be used to investigate both the physics of a burning, ignited plasma and the technology required for a practical fusion reactor. By studying how alpha particles influence plasma behavior in an ignited state, the project aims to overcome significant engineering challenges and advance the development of fusion power.12