By admin 
In an unprecedented achievement for nuclear fusion research, Thales, in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, has set a world record with its TH1507U gyrotron, developed specifically for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator. This advanced gyrotron reached a radiofrequency output of 1.3 megawatts at 140 GHz for an astonishing 360 seconds, underscoring the remarkable advancements in plasma heating and stabilization technology necessary for magnetic confinement nuclear fusion.
Located in Germany, the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator represents the largest facility of its kind, focusing on nuclear fusion by magnetic confinement and operating at temperatures several million degrees Celsius. This achievement positions Thales as a global leader in high-power plasma heating, critical for achieving sustained fusion reactions. The project’s success is a pivotal step toward creating commercial fusion reactors, potentially opening pathways to a sustainable and clean energy future.
“Nuclear fusion offers a future solution for clean, limitless energy,” says Charles-Antoine Goffin, Thales’s Vice President of Microwave & Imaging Sub-Systems. “Our gyrotron’s world record solidifies Thales’s dedication to innovation and positions us as leaders in energy technology for a better tomorrow.”
Edited: Katerina Urbanova
Photo/Credit: View into the plasma vessel of Wendelstein 7 – X (November 2021)
©MPI for Plasma Physics, Jan Michael Hosan