Thales and the Institute of Plasma Physics Max Planck set a world record in nuclear fusion

• Developed in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics especially for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator¹Thales’ TH1507U gyrotron has achieved a significant milestone, achieving a total output power of 1.3 megawatts in radio frequency mode at 140 gigahertz for 360 seconds.
• The Thales gyrotron plays a key role in the design of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, providing the heating and stabilization of the plasma that are necessary to achieve the temperatures required for magnetic confinement nuclear fusion.
• The Wendelstein 7-X project aims not only to advance fundamental understanding of plasma, but also to contribute to the development of commercial fusion reactors, thus providing a path to a clean and sustainable energy source.

To achieve nuclear fusion, the process in which two light nuclei fuse to form a heavier nucleus releasing enormous energy, the magnetic containment process requires heating the gas to create a plasma, which is then confined by a strong magnetic field.

Thales, a world leader in the design and production of plasma heating systems, is the only manufacturer of gyrotron electronic lamps in Europe. These are high-power vacuum tubes used to heat plasma and reach temperatures 10 times higher than the core of the Sun. This equipment is therefore necessary to initiate the fusion reaction through magnetic confinement. It was developed in cooperation with the European Gyrotron Consortium (EGYC), which aims to create an autonomous European source of highly reliable gyrotrons.

Wendelstein 7-X, the world’s largest stellarator, began its experimental campaign (OP2.2) in September 2024, after a year of maintenance. This research center is at the forefront of magnetic confinement nuclear fusion research. Located in Germany, its activities focus on the exploration and optimization of plasma, which in a stable and controlled state can reach temperatures of several million degrees Celsius.

Thales, a world leader in the design and production of plasma heating systems, is the only manufacturer of “Gyrotron” electronic lamps in Europe. These high-power vacuum tubes are used to heat plasma to temperatures ten times higher than the temperature of the Sun’s core. This equipment is necessary to initiate nuclear fusion reactions through magnetic confinement. It was developed in cooperation with the European GYrotron consortium (EGYC)²which aims to create an autonomous European source of highly reliable gyrotrons. Operating at a strategic nominal frequency of 140 gigahertz (GHz), these reactors can also adapt to other frequencies.

Wendelstein 7-X, the world’s largest stellarator, is a state-of-the-art magnetically confined fusion research center that opened in 2015. Located in Germany, its operations focus on the study and optimization of plasmas that can reach temperatures of several million degrees Celsius , in a stable and controlled condition. In September 2024, Wendelstein 7-X began its experimental campaign.

“The world record set by our Gyrotron represents a milestone in the fusion race and illustrates our commitment to technological innovation and excellence. This technological breakthrough puts Thales at the forefront of high-power plasma heating solutions needed to meet tomorrow’s energy challenges.” said Charles-Antoine Goffin, vice president of microwave subsystems and imaging at Thales.

Nuclear fusion is seen as an opportunity to create a clean energy source because it does not generate greenhouse gases and is abundant because its resources are abundant in nature. Therefore, it is identified as one of the solutions to meet two key challenges: the need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and the constantly growing demand for energy in various economic sectors, such as transport, construction, agriculture and the digital industry.

¹ _{A Stellarator is a magnetic containment device used in nuclear fusion research. It keeps the plasma hot by using a complex network of external coils to generate a spiral magnetic field, without the need for internal electric current. This configuration allows for continuous operation and reduces the risk of instability.}

² _{The European Gyrotron Consortium (EGYC) includes the Swiss Plasma Center (SPC), the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the Euratom-Hellenic Association (HELLAS), the Institute of Plasma Sciences and Technology of the Italian National Council for Scientific Research (ISTP-CNR), the Polytechnic University of Turin and Thales, the industrial partner.}