Publication

Investigating long-duration plasma operation with the international multi-machine CICLOP database

Stefano Coda
2026

Abstract

Combined high-fusion performance and long-pulse operation is one of the key integration challenges for fusion energy development in magnetic devices. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated vision of physics and engineering aspects with the purpose of simultaneously increasing time duration and fusion performance. Since the previous 2023 IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, significant progresses have been made in tokamaks and stellarators including very recent achievement in duration and/or performance. These progresses are reviewed by analyzing the experimental data provided by 10 tokamaks and two stellarators. The published database [Litaudon X. et al 2024 Nucl. Fusion 64 015001], which initially included data up to January 2022, has been significantly updated for the 2025 IAEA Fusion Energy Conference to incorporate the latest 2023-2025 experiments (up to May 2025) including recent records performance with new entries provided by DIII-D, EAST, JET, KSTAR, WEST, and W7-X. The update dataset has been gathered and coordination have been provided by the IEA-IAEA international CICLOP group (Coordination on International Challenges on Long duration OPeration). An overview of the recent progress toward long pulse operation analysing the CICLOP database is provided in this publication.

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https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/ddcdcf8c-a1da-4053-b6d3-1e2e2b605968

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Stefano Coda
2026

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/ddcdcf8c-a1da-4053-b6d3-1e2e2b605968

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Magnetic confinement fusion

Magnetic confinement fusion is an approach to generate thermonuclear fusion power that uses magnetic fields to confine fusion fuel in the form of a plasma. Magnetic confinement is one of two major branches of fusion energy research, along with inertial confinement fusion. The magnetic approach began in the 1940s and absorbed the majority of subsequent development. Fusion reactions combine light atomic nuclei such as hydrogen to form heavier ones such as helium, producing energy.

Fusion power

Fusion power is a proposed form of power generation that would generate electricity by using heat from nuclear fusion reactions. In a fusion process, two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, while releasing energy. Devices designed to harness this energy are known as fusion reactors. Research into fusion reactors began in the 1940s, but as of 2023, no device has reached net power. Fusion processes require fuel and a confined environment with sufficient temperature, pressure, and confinement time to create a plasma in which fusion can occur.

Inertial confinement fusion

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is a fusion energy process that initiates nuclear fusion reactions by compressing and heating targets filled with fuel. The targets are small pellets, typically containing deuterium (2H) and tritium (3H). Energy is deposited in the target's outer layer, which explodes outward. This produces a reaction force in the form of shock waves that travel through the target. The waves compress and heat it. Sufficiently powerful shock waves generate fusion.

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Investigating long-duration plasma operation with the international multi-machine CICLOP database

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