Durham scientists validate superconducting wires for ITER fusion project
The study, published in Superconductor Science and Technology, provides key insights into the quality of superconducting wires and the best methods to test them, ensuring ITER's powerful magnets can operate reliably at extreme conditions.
Fusion, the same process that powers the Sun, promises near-limitless low-carbon energy with minimal radioactive waste. ITER aims to demonstrate fusion on an unprecedented scale, using massive superconducting magnets to confine plasma hotter than the Sun's core.
Since 2011, the Durham team, led by Professor Damian Hampshire and Dr Mark Raine, has served as one of Europe's reference laboratories for ITER. They developed specialised testing procedures for superconducting wires made of Nb3Sn and Nb - Ti, both vital to the reactor's magnet system.
Over the course of the programme, more than 5,500 samples were received and around 13,000 tests conducted. Nb3Sn wires required furnace heat treatment at over 650 C before measurement, adding complexity to the testing process.
The team also carried out a statistical analysis of the large dataset. They showed that when Nb3Sn strands cannot be tested repeatedly due to heat treatment, results from adjacent strands tested at different laboratories can serve as reliable substitutes. This method reduces costs while maintaining accuracy and consistency.
"The UK leads the world in the manufacture of MRI body scanners using superconducting magnets," said Professor Hampshire. "The question is can we help lead the world with the commercialisation of Fusion Power generation using Superconducting magnets?"
The findings come as investment in fusion accelerates globally. ITER targets its first plasma in 2035, while private companies push toward earlier commercialisation. Microsoft has signed a deal with Helion for fusion power by 2028, and Google has pre-ordered 200 megawatts from Commonwealth Fusion Systems for the 2030s.
The UK government has pledged GBP 2.5 billion to fusion research and is developing its own prototype STEP plant in Nottinghamshire. ITER's magnets, among the strongest steady magnetic fields ever created, will depend on the superconducting strands now verified at Durham.
Beyond ITER, Durham is also a lead partner in the UK's Centre for Doctoral Training in Fusion Power, preparing the next generation of experts in the field.
Research Report:Superconductor Science and Technology
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