Articles tagged with "fusion-reactor"
Russia tests record-breaking superconductor wire for nuclear fusion
Engineers at Russia’s DV Efremov Institute of Electrophysical Apparatus (NIIEFA), part of Rosatom, have successfully tested a record-breaking high-temperature superconductor (HTSC) wire intended for the Tokamak with Reactor Technologies (TRT) fusion reactor. The tested five-meter wire, composed of 240 HTSC tapes within a copper matrix and stainless steel casing, can carry 65 kiloamperes of current in an 18 Tesla magnetic field—performance levels unprecedented in previous superconducting installations. Operating at cryogenic temperatures between 5 and 20 Kelvin, the wire demonstrated stable superconductivity during tests cooled by liquid nitrogen, confirming its suitability for the demanding electromagnetic systems of fusion reactors. This development marks a significant departure from the materials used in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), which relies on niobium-based wires operating at lower temperatures (4.5 Kelvin). The TRT wire uses yttrium-barium copper oxide tapes, enabling more compact
superconductornuclear-fusionenergyhigh-temperature-superconductorfusion-reactormaterials-sciencecryogenicsStruggling fusion power company General Fusion to go public via $1B reverse merger
General Fusion, a fusion power startup founded in 2002, has announced plans to go public via a $1 billion reverse merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Spring Valley, alongside additional institutional investments. This move marks a significant turnaround for the company, which faced financial struggles and layoffs last year. If the deal closes as expected, General Fusion could secure up to $335 million, more than doubling its previous fundraising goals. The funds will be used to complete its demonstration reactor, LM26, which employs a unique inertial confinement approach using steam-driven pistons and liquid lithium metal to compress fuel pellets, aiming to achieve scientific breakeven by 2026 without relying on costly lasers or superconducting magnets. The merger with Spring Valley, a SPAC experienced in energy sector deals, follows a trend of fusion companies going public, such as TAE Technologies. General Fusion highlights the growing energy demands driven by data centers, electric vehicles, and electrification trends that could increase electricity consumption by
energyfusion-powerGeneral-Fusioninertial-confinementfusion-reactorclean-energyenergy-startupChina's nuclear fusion startup applies AI to spot plasma anomalies
China’s nuclear fusion startup Startorus Fusion, collaborating with Tsinghua University, has developed SUNIST-2, a compact spherical tokamak designed to advance fusion research by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI). The company aims to improve fusion reactor operation, plasma control, and diagnostic reconstruction through intelligent, real-time sensing and anomaly detection. Unlike traditional nuclear fission, fusion fuses light elements like hydrogen to release energy without producing radioactive waste, but sustaining stable fusion reactions remains challenging. Startorus Fusion’s approach includes allowing plasma to dissipate heat before reigniting, inspired by automotive engine principles, to overcome these challenges and move closer to commercialization. Startorus Fusion employs AI-driven anomaly detection systems using supervised and unsupervised learning to monitor critical systems such as power supplies, which require stable high currents from multiple devices prone to imbalance and failure. This AI monitoring enables early warnings and automatic alarms, improving safety and maintenance. Additionally, the startup uses data-driven and physics-based models combined with reinforcement learning to optimize plasma control,
energynuclear-fusionartificial-intelligenceplasma-controlclean-energyfusion-reactormagnetic-confinementUS energy company installs first magnet for Sparc fusion reactor
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) announced a significant milestone at CES 2026 with the installation of the first of 18 powerful D-shaped magnets for its Sparc fusion reactor, a demonstration device aimed for activation next year. Each magnet weighs about 24 tons and generates a 20-tesla magnetic field, roughly 13 times stronger than a standard MRI machine. These magnets will form a doughnut-shaped structure to confine plasma heated to over 180 million degrees Fahrenheit, cooled to -423°F to safely conduct over 30,000 amps of current. The reactor’s cryostat, a 24-foot-wide stainless steel circle weighing 75 tons, was installed in March, and the magnets will be assembled throughout the first half of 2026. To optimize reactor performance, CFS is collaborating with Nvidia and Siemens to develop a digital twin of Sparc, integrating real-time simulations with the physical reactor. This digital twin will enable virtual testing and parameter adjustments, reducing trial-and-error in
energyfusion-energyfusion-reactordigital-twinsuperconducting-magnetsclean-energynuclear-fusionPhotos: Stunning 2025 images reveal world’s biggest nuclear fusion reactor in action
The article highlights the visually captivating and technically impressive imagery of the ITER nuclear fusion reactor construction site in 2025. Photographs from the ITER Communication team and the ITER Photo Group showcase the scale and complexity of the project, capturing everything from massive component handling to intricate details like insulation and reflections. The images emphasize the blend of advanced engineering and aesthetic appeal, with drone shots and ground-level perspectives revealing the reactor’s assembly process and the harmony of its structural geometry. Key milestones in 2025 include the installation of the third vacuum vessel module in the tokamak pit, illustrating ongoing progress in ITER’s assembly. The article also profiles contributors such as Emmanuel Riche, a drone photography pioneer, and Kevin Ballant, founder of the ITER Photo Group, who transitioned from hobbyist to key documentarian. Overall, the collection of photos serves to inspire and inform, offering a unique artistic lens on one of the world’s largest and most ambitious nuclear fusion projects.
energynuclear-fusionITERtokamakenergy-researchfusion-reactorclean-energyPhysicist solves fusion reactor problem shown in ‘The Big Bang Theory’
A team of physicists led by Professor Jure Zupan at the University of Cincinnati, in collaboration with researchers from Fermi National Laboratory, MIT, and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, has theoretically solved a fusion reactor problem previously depicted as unsolvable in the TV sitcom "The Big Bang Theory." The problem involved producing hypothetical subatomic particles called axions—candidates for dark matter—in fusion reactors. While the show's characters Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter attempted and failed to solve this issue in the fifth season, Zupan’s team developed a theoretical framework explaining how axions could be generated in reactors fueled by deuterium and tritium and lined with lithium, such as the ITER reactor under development in France. The researchers found that axions or axion-like particles could be produced through nuclear reactions triggered by neutron flux interacting with the reactor walls, or via bremsstrahlung radiation when neutrons scatter and slow down. This discovery provides a potential method to detect or produce dark matter
energyfusion-reactoraxionsdark-matternuclear-reactionsparticle-physicsbremsstrahlungPhotos: World’s biggest fusion reactor adds over 1,200-ton module in major progress
On November 25, ITER made significant progress in assembling the world’s largest fusion reactor by successfully installing the third vacuum vessel sector module, known as sector module #5, into the tokamak pit. This nearly 1,213-ton component represents one of nine 40° sections that form the plasma chamber, each including a vacuum vessel sector, thermal shield, and superconducting magnets essential for plasma shaping and stabilization during fusion experiments. Notably, sector #5 was the first European-built module installed, presenting new challenges that required precise coordination and planning. A key achievement during this installation was the reduction of the offset between adjacent modules from 100 mm in a previous installation to just about 10 mm, reflecting improved precision and teamwork. The operation also tested the vacuum vessel gravity support system, successfully aligning the module’s connection point with the support structure, a critical step for future module placements. As the pit becomes more crowded with modules, maintaining tight installation margins is vital for safety and efficiency. With sector #
energyfusion-reactorITERvacuum-vesselsuperconducting-magnetsplasma-chamberenergy-technologyThis startup wants to build a fusion reactor — on a boat
Maritime Fusion, led by CEO Justin Cohen, is pioneering the development of a fusion reactor designed to operate on a ship, aiming to leverage recent advances in fusion technology to bring clean, abundant power to maritime vessels. While fusion reactors have traditionally been developed on land, Cohen believes that placing a tokamak—a leading fusion reactor design—on a boat is feasible and potentially advantageous. Unlike nuclear fission reactors currently powering some submarines and aircraft carriers, fusion promises similar benefits without the risks of meltdowns, radiation, or proliferation. Maritime Fusion’s approach also targets a unique market niche: the high fuel costs at sea, where fusion could compete economically with expensive alternatives like ammonia and hydrogen, unlike on the terrestrial power grid where solar and wind dominate. The startup has raised $4.5 million in seed funding from investors including Trucks VC, Y Combinator, and angel investors, and is actively developing critical components such as high-temperature superconducting cables essential for the tokamak’s powerful magnets. Their first
energyfusion-reactormaritime-technologynuclear-fusionclean-energysuperconducting-cablestokamakUS startup's fusion energy device hits record 1.6 GPa plasma pressure
US startup Zap Energy has achieved a significant breakthrough in fusion energy research with its Fusion Z-pinch Experiment 3 (FuZE-3) device, reaching plasma pressures of approximately 1.6 gigapascals (GPa), or 830 megapascals (MPa) electron pressure. These pressures are comparable to those found deep beneath Earth's crust and represent the highest recorded in a sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch. The results, presented at the American Physical Society’s Division of Plasma Physics meeting, mark a key milestone toward achieving scientific energy gain (Q > 1), where a fusion system produces more energy than it consumes. FuZE-3 is Zap Energy’s most advanced fusion platform, notable for incorporating a third electrode that separates plasma acceleration and compression forces, enabling better control over plasma density. The device achieved electron densities between 3 and 5 x 10^24 m^-3 and electron temperatures exceeding 1 keV (over 21 million degrees Fahrenheit), sustaining extreme
energyfusion-energyplasma-physicsfusion-reactorZap-EnergyZ-pinchsheared-flow-stabilized-fusionZap Energy ramps up the pressure in its latest fusion device
Zap Energy unveiled its latest fusion device, Fuze-3, at a research meeting in Long Beach, California, marking a significant step in its effort to commercialize fusion power. The device achieved a plasma pressure exceeding 232,000 psi (1.6 gigapascals) and temperatures over 21 million degrees Fahrenheit (11.7 million degrees Celsius), setting a record for its sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion approach. This method uses electrodes to pass electricity through plasma, generating a magnetic field that heats and compresses the plasma to induce fusion. While these pressure and temperature figures are promising, they are not directly comparable to other fusion startups due to differing technologies. Achieving high plasma pressure is critical for fusion reactors to reach the "triple product" threshold—combining temperature, pressure, and confinement time—to generate net power. Zap Energy estimates it still needs to increase plasma pressure by at least tenfold to reach scientific breakeven, a milestone few have achieved.
energyfusion-powerplasma-physicsfusion-reactorclean-energyenergy-innovationZap-EnergyUS firm advances with Google to fine tune nuclear fusion reactor plasma
US-based nuclear fusion company Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has partnered with Google’s DeepMind to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in optimizing the plasma control of its upcoming SPARC fusion reactor. The collaboration utilizes DeepMind’s open-source Torax software, released in 2024, to simulate and model the superhot plasma inside SPARC, aiming to improve operational efficiency and accelerate the development of commercial fusion power plants, known as ARC. By applying reinforcement learning—an AI technique previously used by DeepMind in other fusion research and famously in AlphaGo—the project seeks to identify optimal configurations for fueling rates, radio-frequency heating, and magnet currents while maintaining safe operational limits. This partnership builds on an existing relationship, with Google already investing in CFS and committing to purchase 200 megawatts of power from the first ARC plant expected in the early 2030s. The AI-driven approach could be used both for pre-operation planning and real-time control, including managing heat exhaust in critical reactor regions.
energynuclear-fusionartificial-intelligenceplasma-controlDeepMindfusion-reactorrenewable-energyWorld's largest fusion reactor gets critical 4-ton tool from US lab
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in the United States is providing a critical diagnostic tool—a four-ton X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer (XICS)—for Japan’s JT-60SA, the world’s largest nuclear fusion reactor set to begin operations in 2026. This collaboration, involving PPPL, Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), and Europe’s Fusion for Energy (F4E), marks one of the first instances of US equipment being installed directly in JT-60SA. The XICS instrument will measure X-rays emitted from the plasma within the reactor, providing highly accurate data on plasma temperature, speed, and particle presence, which are essential for controlling the plasma and maintaining reactor stability. JT-60SA, a superconducting tokamak, will be the most powerful fusion device until the ITER facility in France becomes operational, offering a unique opportunity to explore plasma behaviors at unprecedented power densities. The precise measurements from the XICS will help scientists understand new plasma
energyfusion-reactorplasma-controlX-ray-imaging-crystal-spectrometernuclear-fusiontokamakenergy-researchWorld’s largest fusion reactor hits magnet feeder gallery milestone
The ITER fusion project has achieved a significant milestone with the installation of the 62nd and final "gallery" component of its magnet feeder system. These components are critical for the operation of the superconducting magnets, as they transport cryogenic fluids, power, and instrumentation from the warm exterior environment to the magnets operating at extremely low temperatures (-270°C). The magnet feeder system is a large-scale installation within the Tokamak Complex, consisting of nearly 100 components weighing around 1,600 tonnes, with some feeders extending up to 40 meters in length. The system includes 31 components that supply the toroidal, poloidal, central solenoid, and correction magnet coils. The assembly team distinguishes between two types of feeder segments: "gallery" components located outside the cryostat and "in-cryostat" segments inside the cryostat that connect directly to the magnets. The recent completion of the gallery portion involved installing all 31 coil termination boxes and 31 cryostat feedthroughs, marking a
energyfusion-reactorITERmagnet-feeder-systemsuperconducting-magnetscryogenic-fluidsTokamakRobot arms dismantle longest-running, most powerful fusion reactor
The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has commenced the decommissioning of the Joint European Torus (JET), the world’s longest-running and most powerful fusion tokamak, following over 40 years of operation. JET notably achieved a record 69 megajoules of energy during a six-second pulse in its final deuterium-tritium experiments in October 2023, with plasma operations ending two months later. The initial phase of the JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR) program involved remotely retrieving 66 plasma-facing components and tiles from inside the reactor. These samples are now being analyzed to understand the physical, chemical, and radiological effects of prolonged plasma exposure on reactor materials. The analysis has revealed significant phenomena such as surface melting and the reverse waterfall effect, which were intentionally induced during JET’s final operational pulses to accelerate and observe damage mechanisms in real time. This unique data is critical for validating predictive computer models for future fusion reactors like ITER and
robotenergyfusion-reactormaterials-scienceremote-handlingplasma-researchdecommissioningChina's BEST fusion reactor moves closer to power generation goal
China's Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST) fusion reactor has reached a significant construction milestone with the installation of the Dewar base, a massive vacuum-insulated vessel critical for maintaining the cryogenic temperatures needed by the reactor’s superconducting magnets. Weighing over 400 tonnes and measuring 18 meters in diameter, the Dewar base is the largest vacuum component ever produced in China’s fusion research field. This installation lays the foundation for assembling the reactor’s core systems and is essential for confining plasma heated to over 100 million degrees Celsius, a key step toward achieving the project’s goal of generating electricity from fusion by 2030, initially aiming to power a light bulb. This progress places China’s BEST reactor among the leading global fusion projects, which aim not only to sustain fusion plasma but also to convert fusion energy into practical electricity generation. The development occurs alongside international efforts such as the ITER project in France, where superconducting wire testing and advanced diagnostic tools are advancing fusion research
energynuclear-fusionsuperconducting-magnetsfusion-reactorpower-generationcryogenicsplasma-confinementCommonwealth Fusion Systems books a $1B+ power deal for its future fusion reactor
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has secured a power purchase agreement worth over $1 billion with Italian energy company Eni for electricity generated by its first commercial fusion reactor, Arc, expected to come online in the early 2030s. The 400-megawatt Arc reactor will be located near major U.S. data centers, and this deal follows a similar agreement with Google announced earlier. While specific details about the power volume and timeline remain undisclosed, CFS CEO Bob Mumgaard confirmed that the demonstration-scale Sparc reactor, designed to validate the technology, is 65% complete and on track for activation in late 2026. CFS’s fusion technology is based on a tokamak design using superconducting magnets to confine plasma and generate energy through fusion reactions. Sparc aims to demonstrate net-positive power output, a critical milestone before scaling to the larger Arc plant. The company has raised nearly $3 billion from investors including Nvidia, Google, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and
energyfusion-reactorCommonwealth-Fusion-SystemsArc-reactorSparc-reactortokamakclean-energyChina's artificial sun design can boost nuclear fusion power: Study
China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), also known as the “artificial sun,” has demonstrated significant advancements in nuclear fusion research, potentially accelerating the development of clean, limitless energy. Operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2006, EAST recently set a world record by sustaining steady-state, long-pulse H-mode plasma at temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,066 seconds. This achievement marks a critical milestone in magnetic confinement fusion, showcasing the viability of fully superconducting, non-circular tokamak designs for stable, high-performance fusion operation. The research, led by Jianwen Yan and collaborators from multiple Chinese scientific institutions, highlights that EAST’s design overcomes key challenges in maintaining long-duration, high-parameter plasma conditions essential for practical fusion energy generation. Tokamaks use powerful magnetic fields to contain superheated plasma, and EAST’s success in sustaining these extreme conditions demonstrates that advanced superconducting tokamaks can move fusion technology closer to commercial viability.
energynuclear-fusionsuperconducting-tokamakclean-energyfusion-reactorplasma-physicssustainable-energyITER fusion reactor to get spectrometer to track high-energy neutrons
The ITER fusion reactor, the world’s largest tokamak, is set to install a High Resolution Neutron Spectrometer (HRNS) to measure the number and energies of high-energy neutrons emitted by the plasma during fusion reactions. Developed collaboratively by physicists and engineers from the Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Uppsala, and the Istituto per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Plasmi in Milan, the HRNS is a critical diagnostic tool designed to track the ratio of tritium to deuterium (nt/nd) in the plasma core. This measurement is essential for understanding fuel composition, ion temperature, and combustion quality, thereby enabling optimized and safe reactor operation. The spectrometer will be installed behind a thick concrete wall surrounding the fusion chamber to withstand the harsh environment. The HRNS is uniquely designed as four independent sub-assemblies, each tailored to different neutron flux intensities and operating principles. These include the Thin-foil Proton Recoil (TPR) sub
energyfusion-reactorneutron-spectrometerplasma-diagnosticsITERnuclear-fusiontokamakITER fusion project repairs most affected 485-ton vacuum vessel sector
Sector #8, a critical 440-ton vacuum vessel component of the ITER fusion reactor, has successfully completed a complex 20-month repair process after initial dimensional non-conformities halted its sub-assembly in December 2023. This sector was the most affected among the first three vacuum vessel sectors, which exhibited significant deviations from planned assembly sequences due to dimensional issues. The repair involved innovative procedures and tooling, including pivoting the heavy component from vertical to horizontal positions and transferring it to the Cryostat Workshop for detailed restoration work on its bevel joint geometry. The repair process was complicated by the need to simultaneously address three vacuum vessel sectors, while the Assembly Hall could only support two operations at once. Sector #8’s repair was conducted separately in the Cryostat Workshop, where workers accessed one side at a time, requiring the component to be rotated multiple times using specialized cranes and upending tools. After completing repairs on both sides, the sector was returned to sub-assembly tooling and is now being prepared for installation
energyfusion-reactorvacuum-vesseltokamakITERthermal-shieldtoroidal-field-coilsSuper-X exhaust with long 'legs' could reduce nuclear reactor heat
An international research team at the UK’s MAST Upgrade facility has successfully demonstrated the Super-X divertor, an innovative exhaust system for fusion reactors that can reduce heat loads on reactor walls by more than tenfold compared to previous designs. The Super-X divertor features longer “legs” that provide the superheated plasma—reaching temperatures over 10,000°C—more space and time to cool before contacting any solid surface. This design significantly lowers the thermal and particle stress on the reactor’s divertor, a critical component responsible for handling the extreme conditions at the plasma edge, thereby addressing a major engineering challenge for commercial fusion power plants. The breakthrough proves that plasma conditions in the divertor can be independently controlled without affecting the core plasma where fusion energy is produced, a key factor for stable and continuous reactor operation. Additionally, the Super-X design is easier to manage than conventional short-legged divertors and offers flexibility for future reactor designs by balancing performance with engineering complexity. These findings mark a world-first in divert
energyfusion-reactorplasma-coolingSuper-X-exhaustnuclear-fusiontokamakreactor-heat-managementNvidia, Google, and Bill Gates help Commonwealth Fusion Systems raise $863M
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a Massachusetts-based fusion power startup, has raised $863 million in a recent funding round from a diverse group of investors including Nvidia, Google, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Bill Gates, among others. This latest investment brings CFS’s total funding to nearly $3 billion since its founding. The company aims to accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy, moving beyond the concept stage to industrial-scale deployment. Fusion power, which generates energy by fusing atoms under extreme heat and pressure to create plasma, has long been seen as a potential source of nearly limitless clean energy, but only recently has attracted significant investor interest due to advances in research and technology. CFS is currently developing a prototype fusion reactor called Sparc, a tokamak device designed to achieve scientific breakeven—where the fusion reaction produces more energy than it consumes—by 2027. Although Sparc will not supply power to the grid, it is a critical step toward validating the technology and understanding the
energyfusion-powerCommonwealth-Fusion-Systemsfusion-reactorplasma-physicsclean-energysustainable-energyFusion breakthrough uses inverted D plasma to solve key energy challenge
Researchers at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility in the US have demonstrated a significant breakthrough in nuclear fusion reactor control by using a plasma configuration called “negative triangularity,” where the plasma cross-section is shaped like an inverted “D” with the curved side facing the tokamak’s inner wall. Contrary to previous expectations that this shape would be less stable, experiments in 2023 showed that negative triangularity plasmas can achieve high pressure, density, and current simultaneously while maintaining excellent heat confinement. This configuration also exhibited unexpectedly low levels of plasma instability, which is critical for sustained fusion reactions and reducing damage to reactor walls. A key challenge in tokamak design is managing the heat at the plasma edge to protect the reactor’s interior while keeping the core hot enough for fusion. The negative triangularity approach successfully combined high plasma confinement with “divertor detachment,” a condition that cools the plasma boundary and reduces heat load on material surfaces without triggering instabilities. This integrated solution addresses the core-edge heat management
energynuclear-fusionplasma-physicstokamakfusion-reactorenergy-breakthroughfusion-energy-researchStruggling fusion power company General Fusion gets $22M lifeline from investors
General Fusion, a Canadian nuclear fusion startup founded in 2002, has secured $22 million in new funding from existing investors to address its financial challenges. Although the company described the funding round as “oversubscribed,” the amount falls significantly short of the $125 million it had sought. This fresh capital, described by Segra Capital’s chief investment officer as the minimum needed to reach the next scientific milestone, will provide limited runway for General Fusion to continue developing its half-scale prototype reactor, Lawson Machine 26 (LM26), which it commissioned earlier this year. General Fusion is pursuing magnetized target fusion, a process where plasma containing heavy hydrogen isotopes is compressed by a liquid lithium wall driven inward by steam pistons to achieve the conditions necessary for fusion. The company aims to reach scientific breakeven—the point where energy output equals energy input—though it did not provide a specific timeline. Interim goals include heating plasma to 10 million and then 100 million degrees Celsius. Given the modest funding
energyfusion-powernuclear-fusionclean-energyenergy-startupfusion-reactorscientific-breakevenUS study finds lithium in reactor vessel could boost nuclear fusion
A recent US-led study involving nine institutions has found that using lithium as a wall material in tokamak fusion reactors could significantly enhance fusion performance. Lithium coatings on reactor walls help stabilize plasma by creating an even temperature gradient from the plasma core to its edge, which is crucial for maintaining stable plasma conditions needed for commercial fusion. Unlike pre-applied lithium coatings, injecting lithium powder during fusion operation proves more effective, as it forms a self-repairing molten layer that protects the vessel walls from the extreme heat—temperatures hotter than the sun’s core—by creating a gas or vapor shield. This protective mechanism reduces wall erosion and limits unwanted material entering the plasma, thereby improving plasma-facing surface durability. The study also addressed concerns about fuel trapping in lithium, finding that the thickness of lithium coatings before plasma shots does not significantly affect fuel retention. Lithium’s ability to absorb fuel atoms rather than reflect them helps stabilize the plasma edge, enhance plasma confinement, and enable higher power densities—key factors for developing compact and efficient
lithiumnuclear-fusionfusion-reactormaterials-scienceplasma-facing-componentstokamakenergy-innovationWorld's largest fusion reactor diverter braves asteroid-level heat
The article discusses the successful development and certification of a prototype outer vertical target for the divertor of the ITER fusion reactor, the world’s largest nuclear fusion project under construction in Southern France. The divertor acts as the reactor’s exhaust system and is the only component that directly contacts the plasma, playing a crucial role in maintaining fusion stability by removing fuel residue and helium ash. Developed through a collaboration between Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and Hitachi, the divertor prototype is designed to withstand extreme conditions, including heat loads up to 20 megawatts per square meter and electromagnetic forces of approximately 16.5 tons, using specialized materials such as tungsten and high-strength copper alloys. The manufacturing process was highly complex, involving advanced material development, precise machining, specialized welding techniques, and rigorous quality assurance, including high-temperature helium leak testing. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the ITER Project, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy on a large scale. Moving
energyfusion-reactorITERtungsten-materialshigh-heat-resistancerobotic-weldingnuclear-fusion-technologyNuclear fusion reactors can turn mercury into gold, US firm claims
A US engineering firm, Marathon Fusion, claims to have developed a scalable method to transmute mercury into stable gold using nuclear fusion reactors. Their approach involves bombarding the mercury-198 isotope with high-energy neutrons produced in a fusion reactor’s breeding blanket, converting it first into the unstable mercury-197 isotope, which then decays into gold-197—the naturally occurring stable form of gold—within days. This process leverages the neutrons generated during the fusion of deuterium and tritium, which normally produce helium and energy, by incorporating mercury into the fusion blanket to facilitate the transmutation. The company estimates that a one-gigawatt fusion power plant could yield up to 5,000 kilograms (about 11,000 pounds) of gold annually, potentially generating over $550 million in gold revenue per year without compromising energy output or tritium production. This could significantly enhance the economic viability of fusion power plants by subsidizing their deployment through valuable gold production. The paper also
energynuclear-fusiongold-synthesismercury-transmutationfusion-reactorneutron-multiplierfusion-energyAvalanche Energy hits key milestone on the road to a desktop fusion reactor
Avalanche Energy has reached a significant milestone in developing a desktop fusion reactor by successfully operating its machine for hours at 300,000 volts. This voltage level is critical for their approach, which uses intense electrical currents rather than powerful magnets to accelerate ions into tight orbits around an electrode, causing them to collide and fuse, releasing energy. The company aims to build small reactors producing between 5 to several hundred kilowatts, with the high voltage density (6 million volts per meter) enabling efficient neutron generation for producing radioisotopes and testing fusion materials. The startup recently secured a $10 million grant from Washington State to build FusionWERX, a testing facility available to other fusion researchers that allows users to retain full intellectual property rights. Avalanche plans to become profitable by 2028 through radioisotope sales and FusionWERX rentals, forecasting revenues of $30 million to $50 million by 2029. The company is reportedly preparing for a Series A funding round to meet the 50%
energyfusion-reactordesktop-fusionclean-energynuclear-fusionenergy-innovationfusion-technologyWestinghouse to assemble core of the world’s largest fusion reactor
Westinghouse Electric Company has secured a $180 million contract with the ITER Organization to undertake the final assembly of the tokamak’s core component—the vacuum vessel—at the world’s largest nuclear fusion facility, ITER. This vacuum vessel is a double-walled steel chamber that will contain the fusion plasma, and Westinghouse will weld together its nine sectors to form the torus-shaped chamber. The contract marks a significant milestone as ITER progresses toward its goal of achieving 500 MW of fusion power output from 50 MW of input heating power, demonstrating a tenfold energy gain. ITER aims to conduct initial deuterium-deuterium fusion operations by 2035 and ultimately prove fusion as a large-scale, carbon-free energy source, although it will not generate electricity itself. Westinghouse, a veteran in nuclear fission technology, has been involved with ITER for over a decade, contributing to the manufacturing of vacuum vessel sectors alongside partners in the AMW consortium. The ITER project is a massive international collaboration
energynuclear-fusionWestinghouseITERtokamakvacuum-vesselfusion-reactorUS researchers solve tokamak plasma mystery with elusive ‘voids’ discovery
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed a new theoretical model that may explain a longstanding discrepancy in nuclear fusion research related to plasma behavior at the edge of tokamak reactors. The study, led by physicists Mingyun Cao and Patrick Diamond, focuses on the plasma boundary—a critical region for sustaining fusion reactions and protecting reactor components from extreme heat. Previous simulations underestimated the width of the turbulent layer at the plasma edge, a problem known as the “shortfall problem,” which has hindered accurate predictive modeling of plasma dynamics. The breakthrough centers on previously overlooked structures called “voids,” which are inward-moving, density-depleted formations at the plasma edge. While past research emphasized outward-moving, density-enhanced “blobs,” the role of voids remained unclear. Cao and Diamond’s model treats voids as coherent, particle-like entities that, as they move from the cooler plasma edge toward the hotter core, generate plasma drift waves by interacting with steep temperature and density gradients. These waves transfer
energynuclear-fusiontokamakplasma-physicsfusion-reactorturbulence-modelingplasma-boundaryUK firm achieves first commercial tritium breakthrough for fusion fuel
Astral Systems, a UK-based private fusion company, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first firm to successfully breed tritium—a crucial fuel for nuclear fusion—using its own operational fusion reactor. This breakthrough occurred during a 55-hour Deuterium-Deuterium (DD) fusion irradiation campaign in March, in collaboration with the University of Bristol. The teams produced and detected tritium in real-time from an experimental lithium breeder blanket within Astral’s multi-state fusion reactors, addressing a major challenge in sustainable fusion energy development: generating more fuel than consumed. Astral Systems’ reactor employs its proprietary Multi-State Fusion (MSF) technology, which integrates recent advances in stellar physics and a novel lattice confinement fusion (LCF) approach, originally discovered by NASA in 2020. This design achieves solid-state fuel densities vastly exceeding those in plasma and enables two simultaneous fusion reactions within a compact reactor core. The electron-screened environment reduces the energy needed to overcome particle repulsion, lowering fusion temperatures and improving efficiency. This innovation not only advances tritium breeding but also opens possibilities for applications such as medical isotope production, nuclear waste transmutation, and hybrid fusion-fission systems. The University of Bristol team, supported by UK research bodies, is now focused on optimizing the system to enhance tritium output, signaling a promising path toward scalable fusion fuel production.
energynuclear-fusiontritium-breedingfusion-fuelfusion-reactorsustainable-energyfusion-technology