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References

A category-by-category collection of references for studying nuclear fusion.

As a rough guide by level, high school students through first- and second-year undergraduates should start with the “Introductory Books,” students in specialized undergraduate courses should choose from the “Specialized Books” and “Textbooks (Undergraduate to Graduate),” and graduate students and above should choose from the “Textbooks (Undergraduate to Graduate)” and “Journals and Papers.”

Introductory Books

Section titled “Introductory Books”

Books recommended for those studying nuclear fusion for the first time.

  • 河辺隆也・見角鋭二『21世紀のエネルギー ― プラズマ・核融合』岩波書店（NEW SCIENCE AGE）、1992年

    • An introductory book that explains the fundamentals of plasma and nuclear fusion in an accessible way for a general audience. A good first book for learning the principles and potential of fusion energy.

  • プラズマ・核融合学会編『プラズマエネルギーのすべて』日本実業出版社、2007年

    • A comprehensive introductory book compiled through the collective efforts of the academic society. It covers a wide range, from the basics of plasma to the future vision of fusion reactors.

  • 狐崎晶雄・吉川庄一『新・核融合への挑戦 ― いよいよ核融合実験炉へ』講談社（ブルーバックス）、2003年

    • Explains the history and prospects of fusion research with the readability characteristic of the Blue Backs series. It introduces the path toward experimental reactors in concrete terms.

  • 近藤育朗『核融合エネルギーのはなし』日刊工業新聞社、1996年

    • Explains the workings of fusion energy in a plain, conversational format. It breaks down technical content into easy-to-understand terms.

  • 山﨑耕造『図解入門 よくわかる最新 核融合の基本と仕組み』秀和システム、2023年

    • A recent introductory book that uses illustrations to clearly explain everything from the basics of fusion to the challenges of practical implementation.

Specialized Books

Section titled “Specialized Books”

Specialized books for those who want to study more deeply.

  • 入江克『新しい核融合への道 ― トカマクは越えられるか』丸善、1988年

    • An ambitious book that focuses on confinement methods other than the tokamak and discusses the diverse approaches in fusion research.

  • 岡崎隆司『核融合炉設計入門』丸善プラネット、2018年

    • Systematically explains the engineering knowledge needed for fusion reactor design. It covers each component technology, including the core, blanket, and superconducting magnets.

  • 菊池満『物理学と核融合』京都大学学術出版会、2009年

    • A specialized book that explores nuclear fusion in depth from the perspective of physics. It explains the theoretical background of plasma physics in detail.

  • J.ウェッソン著、伊藤早苗・矢木雅敏訳『トカマク概論』九州大学出版会、2003年

    • The Japanese translation of the first edition of the internationally acclaimed “Tokamaks.” A standard textbook for tokamak-type fusion research.

Textbooks (Undergraduate to Graduate)

Section titled “Textbooks (Undergraduate to Graduate)”

English textbooks used as standards in graduate schools around the world. They are also frequently chosen for group study sessions after joining a research lab.

  • F. F. Chen, Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Springer
    • The world-standard introductory textbook on plasma physics. It explains everything from single-particle motion to waves and transport in plain English.
  • J. P. Freidberg, Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy, Cambridge University Press, 2007
    • A textbook that systematically treats plasma physics and reactor design with nuclear fusion as its goal. Aimed at upper-level undergraduates through graduate students.
  • J. Wesson, Tokamaks, Oxford University Press
    • The de facto standard reference for tokamak research. A staple that every research lab keeps a copy of.
  • R. J. Goldston and P. H. Rutherford, Introduction to Plasma Physics, Institute of Physics Publishing
    • A textbook based on lectures at Princeton University. Its introduction to transport and MHD is thorough.

Journals and Papers

Section titled “Journals and Papers”

Materials for keeping up with the latest research trends.