Research Areas
Fusion Energy
Research in fusion energy focuses on developing methods to achieve and sustain nuclear fusion reactions for power generation. Key areas include plasma physics (studying and controlling the hot, ionized gas needed for fusion), magnetic confinement (using devices like tokamaks to contain plasma with magnetic fields), inertial confinement (compressing fuel with lasers or ion beams). Research also investigates enabling technologies like diagnostics to characterize fusion plasmas, reactor materials, tritium production and recovery, fusion reactor neutronics, safety, and environmental impact.