Demonstration of Super-X divertor exhaust control for transient heat load management in compact fusion reactors

B. Kool (), K. Verhaegh (), G. L. Derks, T. A. Wijkamp, J. T. W. Koenders, N. Lonigro, G. McArdle, C. Vincent, J. Lovell, S. S. Henderson, F. Federici, D. Brida, H. Reimerdes, N. Osborne and M. Berkel
Additional contact information
B. Kool: DIFFER–Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research
K. Verhaegh: Eindhoven University of Technology
G. L. Derks: DIFFER–Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research
T. A. Wijkamp: DIFFER–Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research
J. T. W. Koenders: DIFFER–Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research
N. Lonigro: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority–Culham Campus
G. McArdle: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority–Culham Campus
C. Vincent: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority–Culham Campus
J. Lovell: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
S. S. Henderson: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority–Culham Campus
F. Federici: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
D. Brida: Max-Planck-Institut fur Plasmaphysik
H. Reimerdes: Swiss Plasma Center (SPC)
N. Osborne: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority–Culham Campus
M. Berkel: DIFFER–Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research

Nature Energy, 2025, vol. 10, issue 9, 1116-1131

Abstract: Abstract Nuclear fusion could offer clean, abundant energy. However, managing the power exhausted from the core fusion plasma towards the reactor wall remains a major challenge. This is compounded in emerging compact reactor designs promising more cost-effective pathways towards commercial fusion energy. Alternative Divertor Configurations (ADCs) are a potential solution. In this work, we demonstrate exhaust control in ADCs, employing a novel method to diagnose the neutral gas buffer, which shields the target. Our work on the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak Upgrade shows that ADCs tackle key risks and uncertainties for fusion energy. Their highly reduced sensitivity to perturbations enables active exhaust control in otherwise unfeasible situations and facilitates an increased passive absorption of transients, which would otherwise damage the divertor. We observe a strong decoupling of each divertor from other reactor regions, enabling near-independent control of the divertors and core plasma. Our work showcases the real-world benefits of ADCs for effective heat load management in fusion power reactors.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-025-01824-7

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