Born 14 October 1939 in Nevers France, father of 3 children, Jean Jacquinot holds a “Doctorat d’état ès sciences physiques” (Orsay University, 1972) in plasma physics.
Physicist at CEA Fontenay-aux-Roses (1962-1982), he studies magnetic confinement of hot fully ionised gases (plasmas). His work evolves toward the study of plasma heating with electromagnetic waves at the ion cyclotron frequency, a new domain at the time. He makes major theoretical and experimental contributions forming the basis for a heating method now widely used in Tokamaks.
In 1982, he moves to JET (Joint European Torus) Culham, UK. He is appointed Division Head for creating the RF heating division with responsibility to construct and operate a 32 MW RF power plant and to perform the related physics experiments.
In 1992, he becomes JET Associate Director and Head of the heating and operation department. He is also Scientific Director of the deuterium-tritium experiments which took place in 1997, achieving the fusion power world records. In 1992, he becomes member of the ITER Scientific Council (TAC).
In 1999, he becomes the JET Director until the end of the « Joint Undertaking » and prepares the organisational change to a « user facility ». The JET workforce comprises at that time 600 persons, has an annual budget of 77 millions Euros and is the largest magnetic confinement research facility in the world.
In 2000, he goes back to France to become head of the Euratom-CEA association and of the CEA department on controlled fusion research in Cadarache. He leads the upgrade of the French Tokamak Tore Supra for long pulse operation. In 2003, Tore Supra reaches a new record of 1000 MJ of extracted power during pulses lasting more than 6 minutes obtaining new physics insight on stability and transport in steady state operation. Upon arrival at Cadarache, he initiates the Cadarache site proposal for ITER. In charge of its development, he takes part in the negotiations leading to the choice of Cadarache.
In November 2004, he becomes Scientific Advisor to the High Commissioner for Atomic Energy. Member of his cabinet, his areas of expertise include the fusion programme and the setting-up of a nation wide training on fusion sciences at master degree level and beyond.
He is presently chairman of the federation “formation aux sciences de la fusion” and since November 2006, chairman of the ITER review group for heating and current drive systems.
Publications and Honours: About 350 publications in scientific journals and 30 invited lectures in international conferences. Co-author with R. Arnoux of the book “ITER: l’énergie des étoiles?” (Edisud, 2006). Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite and chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. Medal awards from the towns of Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Paul-lez-Durance. Award ‘Chercheur de l’année 2003’ by ‘Le Nouvel Economiste. Prize ‘Duc de Villars from the ‘Académie de Marseille’ (2006).