Technical status of JET and future prospects

The technical status of the JET (Joint European Torus) machine and essential systems used during the 1989 experimental campaign are described. The vacuum vessel has been mechanically reinforced and is now able to resist safely the large disruption forces at plasma currents up to 7 MA. An electrical fault developed in one of the toroidal field coils, and although operation is continuing, coil replacement is planned to take place by the end of 1989. The use of a beryllium first wall has been the salient feature of 1989 operation and the technological and safety aspects of operating with beryllium are reviewed. The reasons for changing the orientation of the JET development program with the aim of studying the problem of impurity control is explained. To this end, operating the JET in a divertor configuration is proposed. Technological aspects of the pumped divertor operation are reviewed, and a brief technical description of the major components is given