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


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.

Developed in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics specifically for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator 1, 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. 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.

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