Research work on the magnetic confinement of plasma which forms the basis of fusion power generation, has recently made considerable progress and one expects that the scientific feasibility of fusion power reactor might be demonstrated towards the early date of 1980's.
Aside from the gigantic superconducting magnet system for future fusion reactor, we have made a survey of the actual superconducting magnet systems for the plasma confinement in the various laboratories, and described these systems, dividing them into 3 categories, that is, open (magnetic mirror) type, internal ring type and toroidal magnet type. In these systems some of the internal ring type have been successfully operated and produced good results. Others are not yet so fruitful in plasma experiments but they are also supplying the creative data for the promotion of both the superconducting magnets and the plasma confinement technology.
Our present applications of superconductor in this field is very limited as compared with those of other countries.
As the superconducting magnet system will hold the very important role in the fusion power reactor, we should now start the long term program for superconducting magnet technology to cope with the requirements of the plasma confinement.
