The results of world-wide fusion research during the last decade indicate that fusion can be an energy source. A key challenge for fusion energy science research in the next decade is to optimize the science and technology to make fusion practical and affordable. To address this objective, the U.S. fusion program is pursuing a variety of research programs including new facilities and facility upgrades and collaboration on both existing and new facilities overseas. These programs will evaluate attractive new approaches to fusion energy, continue the exploration of advanced toroidal concepts with higher plasma pressure and reduced transport, develop innovative technologies, and establish the physics of new fusion concepts.

The U.S. fusion energy community is now developing a coherent plan for the next decade. This plan will include paths for both energy and science goals, address the needs for both magnetic and inertial fusion options, and take into account related international programs.

To provide input to this plan, individuals involved with fusion research are invited to come together to interact with each other and to develop a scientific and technical basis for consensus on:

• The key issues for plasma science, technology, and energy and environment for fusion energy development.
  
  
• The opportunities and potential contributions of existing and possible future facilities and programs to reduce fusion development costs and achieve attractive economic and environmental features.

The workshop will be open to all members of the international fusion science and technology community, including experts in all approaches to magnetic and inertial fusion energy. Special effort will be made to involve younger physicists and individuals from other countries. Every effort will be made to accommodate the families of participants attending the Summer Study.

The 1999 Fusion Summer Study is a Workshop endorsed by the American Physical Society's (APS) Division of Plasma Physics, and official endorsement is being sought by the American Nuclear Society's (ANS) Division of Fusion Energy. The Summer Study is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), General Atomics (GA), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Plasma Science and Fusion Center (MIT/PSFC), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Virtual Laboratory for Technlogy (VLT), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Fusion Power Associates (FPA), and the University Fusion Association (UFA).

Questions, comments, or additional information should be sent to John DeLooper at jdeloope@pppl.gov