Developed in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics specifically for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator1, Thales’s TH1507U gyrotron has achieved a significant milestone by reaching a total output of 1.3 megawatts in radiofrequency at a frequency of 140 gigahertz for 360 seconds.
Thales’s gyrotron plays a crucial role in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator project by providing heating and stabilization of the plasma, which are essential for reaching the temperatures required for magnetic confinement nuclear fusion.
The Wendelstein 7-X project not only aims to enhance the fundamental understanding of plasmas, but also to contribute to the development of commercial fusion reactors, thereby providing a pathway to a clean and sustainable energy source.
View into the plasma vessel of Wendelstein 7 – X (November 2021)
©MPI for Plasma Physics, Jan Michael Hosan
To achieve nuclear fusion, a process in which two light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus that releases massive energy, the magnetic confinement process requires heating a gas to create a plasma, which is then confined by a powerful magnetic field.
Thales, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of plasma heating systems, is the only European manufacturer of “Gyrotron” electronic tubes. These high-power vacuum tubes are used to heat plasma to temperatures ten times greater than that of the sun’s core. This equipment is essential for initiating nuclear fusion reactions through magnetic confinement. It was developed in collaboration with the European GYrotron Consortium (EGYC)2, which aims to create an, autonomous European source of highly reliable gyrotrons. Operating at a strategic nominal frequency of 140 gigahertz (GHz), theses reactors can also adapt to other frequencies.
Wendelstein 7-X, the world’s largest stellarator, is a cutting-edge research center for the study of nuclear fusion by magnetic confinement, inaugurated in 2015. Located in Germany, its activities focus on exploring and optimizing plasmas, which can reach temperatures of several million degrees Celsius, in a stable and controlled state. In September 2024, Wendelstein 7-X launched its experimental campaign.
“The world record set by our Gyrotron marks a significant milestone in the race for fusion and illustrates our commitment to technological innovation and excellence. This technological breakthrough positions Thales at the forefront of high-power plasma heating solutions, essential for addressing the energy challenges of tomorrow.” said Charles-Antoine Goffin, Vice President of Microwave & Imaging Sub-Systems at Thales.
Nuclear fusion is considered an opportunity to create a clean energy source as it does not generate greenhouse gases and is abundant as its resources being present in large quantities in nature. It is therefore identified as one of the solutions to address two crucial challenges: the need to reduce global carbon emissions and the ever-growing demand for energy in various sectors of the economy, such as transportation, construction, agriculture, and the digital industry.
1 A stellarator is a magnetic confinement device used in nuclear fusion research. It maintains a hot plasma by using a complex network of external coils to generate a helical magnetic field, without requiring internal electrical current. This configuration allows for continuous operation and reduces the risk of instabilities.
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 for Plasma Science and Technology of the Italian National Research Council (ISTP-CNR), the Polytechnic University of Turin, and Thales, the industrial partner.