Diamond-based detectors may help unlock safer fusion reactors

The University of California system has awarded $8 million in research grants over three years to accelerate nuclear fusion innovation, aiming to establish California as a leader in fusion power. At UC Santa Cruz, physicists received $555,000 to develop advanced monitoring systems for future fusion reactors using artificial diamond detectors. These diamond-based sensors are designed to withstand the extreme radiation inside fusion reactors, a condition that traditional silicon-based detectors, such as low-gain avalanche diodes (LGADs), cannot endure. The project is a collaboration with Advent Diamond, a company specializing in fabricating diamond sensors, enabled by an initial $48,000 seed grant from UC Santa Cruz. Fusion energy, which replicates the sun’s reaction by fusing hydrogen to produce clean power without greenhouse gases or significant waste, has gained momentum following the 2022 fusion ignition milestone at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. With over $10 billion in private investment and supportive policies like California’s Senate Bill 25, the UC Initiative for Fusion Energy