The fusion energy industry is on the brink of a revolution, driven by groundbreaking magnet designs that promise to make fusion power a reality. Two key players in this field, Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) and Realta, are leveraging powerful magnetic fields to contain and control plasma, the core component of fusion reactions. 

CFS and the Tokamak Design

CFS, a company spun out of MIT in 2018, is working on commercializing fusion power using innovative magnet technology. Their reactor design, known as a tokamak, shapes plasma into a doughnut-like configuration. In this setup, the magnetic fields are crucial for holding the plasma in place, allowing hydrogen nuclei to fuse and release immense amounts of heat. This heat can then be converted into electricity, providing a potentially limitless and clean energy source.

Realta and the Magnetic Mirror Design

While CFS focuses on the tokamak design, Realta is exploring a different approach with their WHAM (Wisconsin High-field Axisymmetric Mirror) project. The magnetic mirror design used in WHAM employs two strong magnets positioned at either end of the reactor to create a Tootsie roll-shaped magnetic field. This field compresses the plasma at both ends, causing hydrogen ions to collide and fuse in the middle, releasing energy in the process.

WHAM serves as a testbed for this magnetic mirror design, providing valuable data that will inform the construction of Realta's demonstration reactor, Anvil. Expected to be completed later in the decade, Anvil will be larger and allow scientists to test different materials inside a working reactor. Following Anvil, Realta plans to build Hammer, an even more advanced reactor with two magnets on each end. This design will enable longer reactors, which are anticipated to produce more power.

Apex Magnets and the Future of Fusion

The advancements in fusion energy, driven by innovative magnet designs from companies like CFS and Realta, highlight the transformative potential of magnets. As these technologies progress, the dream of harnessing fusion power for a clean, sustainable energy future comes closer to reality.

Apex Magnets is proud to support and inform its readers about these exciting developments in the world of magnets and fusion energy.