Overview of the physics basis for the ARC fusion power plant

2026/06/01 by Jon C. Hillesheim, J. C. Hillesheim, Alexander J. Creely +24 · 1 voice · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Materials Science · Engineering · #Magnetic confinement fusion research #Fusion materials and technologies #Superconducting Materials and Applications

paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s0022377826101706

Abstract

Commonwealth Fusion Systems plans to build ARC as the first fusion power plant at a site in Chesterfield County, Virginia, USA by the early 2030s. We present an overview of analysis comprising the physics basis of the ARC V3A design, a high-magnetic-field tokamak with B₀=11.4 T , I_p=12.0 MA , R₀=4.62 m , a=1.18 m . ARC V3A is designed to produce P_fus ≈ 1.13 GW DT fusion power and deliver \geqslant 400 MW net electric power to the grid. This overview includes quantitative analysis of fundamental issues for design of and operational plasma scenarios for a tokamak power plant, and lays out the design targets and strategic choices for ARC, including empirical fusion performance projections, assessment of H-mode access, ion cyclotron resonance heating simulations, alpha particle physics and time-dependent full-pulse simulations. This is complemented by topical papers on fusion performance and transport, disruption physics, boundary physics and magnetohydrodynamic stability. Critically, these studies identify key model uncertainties and physics risks to be retired through SPARC operation. Due to the modular nature of ARC, early results from SPARC can be incorporated into the design of the first ARC as well as subsequent replacements of the ARC vacuum vessel.

Citations

• Overview of T and D–T results in JET with ITER-like wall
• Stellarator fusion systems enabled by arrays of planar coils
• Survey of the H-mode power threshold and transition physics studies in ASDEX Upgrade
• Overview of the present progress and activities on the CFETR
• Effect of the relative shift between the electron density and temperature pedestal position on the pedestal stability in JET-ILW and comparison with JET-C
• Direct gyrokinetic comparison of pedestal transport in JET with carbon and ITER-like walls
• The updated ITPA global H-mode confinement database: description and analysis
• Role of the separatrix density in the pedestal performance in deuterium low triangularity JET-ILW plasmas and comparison with JET-C
• The role of ETG modes in JET–ILW pedestals with varying levels of power and fuelling
• Performance and transport in the ARC tokamak
• A gyrokinetic perspective on the JET-ILW pedestal

Cited by

• Performance and transport in the ARC tokamak
• ARC physics basis–magnetohydrodynamics
• Enhanced alpha channeling with spin-polarized fuel

Discussions

• New physics papers lay firm foundation for CFS’ ARC fusion power plant design | The Tokamak Times [lemmy, 57 points, 9 comments]

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• Performance and transport in the ARC tokamak
• ARC physics basis–magnetohydrodynamics
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