Under Pressure: Record plasma for UK flagship machine
UKAEA has completed its fifth series of experiments on its MAST Upgrade fusion machine, overcoming plasma instability issues and pioneering novel techniques.
- MAST Upgrade’s fifth series of experiments overcome plasma instability issues considered essential prerequisites before commercial fusion energy power plants can be built.
- A novel technique was pioneered by the team using measurements of light to detect and control tiny plasma imbalances.
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has completed its most ambitious series of experiments to date on its flagship fusion machine.
The highest plasma pressure attained by the machine was achieved while overcoming control problems that are considered essential prerequisites for commercial fusion power.
The fifth series of experiments conducted on the MAST Upgrade machine, at UKAEA’s Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, ran through 2025 and 2026 and produced more than 1,100 fusion plasmas.